Economy
BSNL to launch 5G mobile services by December 2026
What happened
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is preparing to commercially launch 5G mobile services in India by the end of 2026, marking a significant upgrade for the state-run telecom operator. The announcement follows recent trials and infrastructure upgrades, positioning BSNL to compete with private sector players in the high-speed connectivity market.
Key facts
BSNL aims to launch 5G services by December 2026, according to internal sources cited in the report.
The company has completed 5G trials in select cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.
BSNL plans to deploy 5G infrastructure using its existing optical fiber network and new spectrum allocations from the government.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has allocated 5G spectrum to BSNL for commercial use, though specific bands were not detailed in the report.
Private operators like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have already launched 5G services in multiple Indian cities since 2022.
Context
BSNL is India’s state-owned telecom company, operating under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The company has historically lagged behind private operators like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea in 4G and 5G adoption. 5G technology offers ultra-fast internet speeds, lower latency, and support for advanced applications like IoT, smart cities, and industrial automation. India’s 5G rollout began in 2022, with private players leading the deployment so far.