BSNL Must Meet Daily 4G Rollout Targets; India to Lead in 6G, Says Scindia
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is setting up a project-monitoring unit (PMU) for BSNL to oversee its 4G rollout, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced. He emphasized that BSNL must meet its daily targets.
The government plans to notify all rules and provisions of the new Telecom Act within 180 days. Scindia committed to having every rule in place within this timeframe to provide clarity and confidence.
India has emerged as the largest and fastest-growing communications market, known for technological advancements. The country is working on obtaining 127 key patents for 6G technology, aiming to lead globally in this domain.
Regarding BSNL’s 4G rollout, the PMU will collaborate with key vendors such as Tejas Networks, C-DoT, TCS, and others. BSNL’s 4G network relies on locally developed technology, demonstrating India’s shift from being a service provider to a product supplier.
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) has developed a 4G/5G stack, deploying it with BSNL, which awarded a Rs 24,500-crore contract to a TCS-led consortium in 2023. BSNL aims to launch 4G services by December 2024, despite falling behind competitors like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel in 4G and 5G rollouts.
On Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), Scindia stated that assets would be monetized to pay off liabilities, ensuring no default on sovereign guarantee bonds. Recently, the government deposited Rs 92 crore to clear bond interest due for MTNL.
Additionally, Scindia introduced a DoT-run testing and reimbursement scheme for startups and micro and small enterprises, with a budget of Rs 25 crore. The scheme provides financial support of up to Rs 50 lakh per startup or MSE, with reimbursements of 75% for startups, 60% for micro-enterprises, and 50% for small enterprises, funded by the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF).
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