BSNL employees seek 4G network sharing with VI to curb customer exodus
https://psuwatch.com/
India
07-05-2024
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In March 2024 alone, a staggering 2.3 million customers deserted BSNL, adding to the 18 million subscribers lost in the fiscal year 2023-24. This mass exodus is primarily due to the absence of 4G/5G services. The BSNLEU, representing BSNL employees, has urgently appealed to Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to intervene. They propose a temporary solution: allowing BSNL to utilize Vodafone Idea's 4G network, of which the government holds a significant stake. This move aims to stem the tide of departing customers and prevent BSNL from sliding into an irreversible crisis.
Meanwhile, the consortium led by TCS, entrusted with deploying BSNL's 4G/5G network, has encountered significant delays. Despite winning the Rs 19,000-crore contract in 2023, progress has been sluggish. The consortium, which includes ITI Limited, Tejas Networks, and C-DoT, faces technical challenges, with TCS yet to complete field trials of its 4G equipment. The situation underscores the urgent need for action to salvage BSNL's deteriorating position in the telecom landscape.