Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is a state-owned telecommunications company in India, wholly owned by the Government of India. It was established on 15th September 2000, although its roots trace back to the 19th century when it was part of the Postal and Telegraph department. BSNL was formed by the corporatisation of the Department of Telecom Services and the Department of Telecom Operations. The company has played a significant role in providing telecom services across India, with a vision to be a leading telecom service provider both nationally and globally. BSNL has been pivotal in democratizing communication services, offering affordable landline, mobile, and broadband services to millions of Indians. Despite its initial success, BSNL faced challenges due to technological advancements, the emergence of private players, and financial setbacks, impacting its market position.
Alias
CellOne
Country
India
Type
Mobile Network Operator
BSNL logo

3G Network

BSNL launched its 3G services in February 2009, aiming to take a lead over private operators. The company placed purchase orders for the northern, eastern, and western zones to facilitate the rollout. The Indian government, while announcing the 3G policy, allocated spectrum to BSNL and MTNL ahead of other operators, with the condition that they would pay the price equivalent to the highest bid. This strategic move was intended to give public sector units a competitive edge over private players. BSNL's 3G network shutdown was announced for end of year 2024, gradually being phased out in favour of more advanced technologies like 4G and 5G.

Network Frequency Band Status
B1 (2100 MHz)
Active
Date Event Subtype
Launch of 3G Network
Launch

4G Network

BSNL's journey towards 4G began with the acquisition of spectrum in various frequency bands. The company acquired 2.6 GHz BWA spectrum licences in band 41 across 22 circles for $1.6 billion, with plans to deploy an LTE TDD network between 2017 and 2018. BSNL also sought to acquire 700 MHz spectrum to enhance its network capabilities. The rollout of BSNL's 4G services commenced in a limited form during April 2019, focusing on urban areas. However, challenges related to network reliability and spectrum allocation have been prevalent. The Department of Telecommunications allocated the 700 MHz and 2100 MHz bands to BSNL, but the limited capacity of the 2100 MHz band hindered network performance. As of mid-2025, BSNL plans to establish 100,000 4G sites nationwide, many of which will transition to 5G as part of a phased rollout.

4G Frequency Bands
Network Frequency Band Max. Channel Bandwidth Status
B1 (2100 MHz)
5
Active
Date Event Subtype
Launch of 4G Network
Launch

5G Network

BSNL has not yet commercially launched its 5G network but has made significant progress in testing and trials. The company completed trials for its 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) and core network across the 3.6 GHz and 700 MHz frequency bands. The Indian government confirmed BSNL's anticipated 5G rollout, with services expected to launch in 2025. The trials, conducted in collaboration with the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and local manufacturers, demonstrated successful use of the technology. BSNL's 5G rollout is part of a broader strategy to enhance network security, affordability, and user accessibility, with plans to eventually transition many of its 4G sites to 5G.

Date Event Subtype