Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is planning to introduce 4G and 5G network services in non-standalone (NSA) mode on 15th August 2022, Independence Day in India. In this, 5G service will be provided without end-to-end 5G network. It is used by operators in the initial stage where they provide 5G service from 4G infrastructure.
Rajkumar Upadhyay, Executive Director and Chairman, Development Center of Telematics (C-C-DoT), shared the information during a recent industry event. He revealed that the state-owned telco is doing a Proof of Concept (PoC) for 4G while simultaneously working on 5G.
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Private Indian telecom companies have already launched their 4G network a few years back, but BSNL was stuck as it faced financial challenges in bringing it to market. BSNL’s 4G network is now complete and it is expected that the company will launch it as soon as the commercial agreement is done. However, we can expect BSNL to deploy its 5G SA connections by the third quarter of 2023.
BSNL has partnered with IT services and consulting company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to conduct field trials in Ambala and Chandigarh in North India. State-run Telecom Consultants India Limited (TCIL) has partnered with C-DOT on other indigenous products like Core Network.
C-DOT, a state-owned research institution, along with premier academic institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology, is playing a vital role in developing the Indian Institute of Technology network. BSNL will use the same Indian 4G technology to launch its services in 2022.
In addition, the government is promoting the use of Indian startups to develop indigenous technologies. To reduce its dependence on international vendors, India is trying to promote the development of domestic technology and products as a part of its Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) policy.