BSNL Andhra Pradesh Hits 1 Lakh SIM Activations in Just 23 Days

BSNL Andhra Pradesh Hits 1 Lakh SIM Activations in Just 23 Days

BSNL Andhra Pradesh Hits 1 Lakh SIM Activations in Just 23 Days

Key Highlights:

1. BSNL Andhra Pradesh activates 1 lakh SIM cards in 23 days.
2. BSNL’s 4G network deployment expected to complete by June 2025.
3. BSNL aims to begin nationwide 4G and 5G services by end of 2024 and early 2025.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Andhra Pradesh (AP) has achieved a significant milestone, reporting 1 lakh SIM activations in just 23 days. The announcement was made by BSNL Andhra Pradesh on X (formerly known as Twitter) this Saturday. However, it remains unclear whether these activations are direct or via Mobile Number Portability (MNP).

In May, BSNL launched its indigenous 4G technology in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, with plans to extend this service across the state soon.

Competitive Tariffs for Subscriber Attraction

Following a tariff revision in early July, BSNL has been promoting its tariffs as more affordable and competitive to attract subscribers. It’s important to note that BSNL does not currently offer PAN India 4G coverage, unlike private telecom providers. Additionally, Airtel and Jio are currently providing 5G services with unlimited benefits, which BSNL has yet to match.

BSNL’s 4G and 5G Deployment Status

According to a recent CNBC report, the government informed Parliament on July 24 that BSNL 4G services might take another year to be fully deployed. The state-owned telecom operator is now expected to complete the deployment of its 4G network by June 2025. So far, BSNL has activated only 1,000 sites, with a target to set up 100,000 sites across the country.

However, a report from Business Standard, citing a senior BSNL official, stated that BSNL has installed nearly 12,000 4G towers and aims to begin nationwide 4G services by the end of 2024, with 5G services starting early next year.

“4G sites are up in all four metro cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. Sites are also active in most of the state capitals including Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Raipur, and Chandigarh,” the report said.

The official Department of Telecom (DoT) recently shared a picture of a 5G-ready BSNL SIM card on platform X, hinting at the upcoming rollout of 4G/5G services.

BSNL’s Wireless Subscriber Base

Regarding BSNL’s wireless subscriber base, the telco has been losing overall subscribers month on month. In May, BSNL/MTNL together lost 516,074 wireless subscribers, bringing their subscriber base to 88.25 million. In Andhra Pradesh specifically, BSNL lost 3,192 wireless subscribers in May, reducing its subscriber base to 6.3 million, the lowest among all four operators in the state. Notably, BSNL is not the leading telecom provider in any circle in India.