Now Reading: BSNL seeks ₹77,000 crore for 4G, 5G expansion
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BSNL seeks ₹77,000 crore for 4G, 5G expansion
BSNL has proposed a ₹77,000 crore capital expenditure plan over five years to add 200,000 4G sites, roll out 5G in strategic areas, and improve customer support. The department of telecommunications told…
The Story in Brief
BSNL has proposed a ₹77,000 crore capital expenditure plan over five years to add 200,000 4G sites, roll out 5G in strategic areas, and improve customer support. The department of telecommunications told a parliamentary panel that the investment will help BSNL achieve 98% nationwide coverage and operational breakeven by FY29.
However, the panel noted that BSNL’s loss widened to ₹4,738 crore in FY26, even as revenue rose 1.7% to ₹21,199 crore. It recommended holding the additional spending in abeyance until a comprehensive infrastructure-sharing arrangement with Vodafone Idea is finalised. BSNL had installed 105,290 indigenous 4G sites by April and is testing 5G in Delhi.
The Indian Opinion
The usual narrative paints BSNL as a perpetual drain on the exchequer, but this plea for ₹77,000 crore comes with a specific goal: 98% coverage and breakeven by FY29. The real test is not the size of the capex but whether the government builds in accountability. The parliamentary panel’s demand to first finalise infrastructure-sharing with Vodafone Idea is a sensible check. Will the government insist on a return-on-investment analysis before signing off?
Source: livemint.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
