From grappling with accumulating losses to writing a rare public sector success story, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is shaping itself into a rejuvenated telecom behemoth. Once written off as a relic of the past, BSNL has not only posted back-to-back quarterly profits for the first time in nearly two decades but is now pioneering a revolutionary step in the Indian telecom sector: the launch of a fully indigenous, SIM-less, high-speed 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service.
The company’s path is now being celebrated as a model of resilience, ingenuity, and smart government action. And if its new product, the Quantum 5G FWA service, is anything to go by, then BSNL’s resurgence is not merely a business tale, but a building block towards India’s digital self-sufficiency.
Quantum 5G FWA: Revolutionising access to high-speed internet
On June 18, Quantum 5G FWA was introduced by BSNL in Hyderabad, as India’s first telecom company to offer a SIM-less, 100 per cent indigenous 5G Fixed Wireless Access solution. The superfast service offers gigabit-class speeds wirelessly without the requirement of traditional fibre installations. The service runs on a Direct-to-Device architecture with Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) auto-authenticating the users, making a physical SIM card unnecessary.
During the launch, BSNL/MTNL Chairman and Managing Director Shri A. Robert J. Ravi said, “Quantum 5G FWA demonstrates how Indian engineers can create world-class connectivity. It is the first SIM-less, 100 per cent home-grown customised 5G FWA for BSNL. Today is only a soft launch; many more cities and feature upgrades will follow.”
Early performance trials at the Ameerpet Exchange in Hyderabad recorded download speeds of 980 Mbps and upload speeds of 140 Mbps, with latency falling below 10 milliseconds, performance levels that are on par with international standards. The installation process is no less groundbreaking. No trenching or fibre pull are needed, and the self-install gateway already reaches around 85 per cent of Hyderabad homes under the current BSNL tower network.
The firm has launched prices of Rs. 999 for 100 Mbps and Rs 1499 for 300 Mbps plans. In the future, BSNL aims to introduce pilot launches of Quantum 5G FWA in Bengaluru, Pune, Visakhapatnam, Gwalior, Pondicherry, and Chandigarh by September 2025. Nationwide introduction will be done subject to customer response.
Aside from domestic consumers, BSNL is also eyeing enterprise usage with network-sliced, SLA-supported 5G links for MSMEs and smart manufacturing clusters on the same standalone 5G core.
Profit returns after 17 years
While the tech achievement has set headlines agog, BSNL’s emergence as a profitable entity after 17 long years is no less historic. The company registered a net profit of Rs 262 crore in the third quarter of FY2024- 25, its first quarterly profit since 2007. This momentum carried over into Q4 FY25, with profits touching Rs 280 crore, thus further substantiating the telecom PSU’s comeback credentials.
Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, in response to the Q3 numbers on February 14, called BSNL’s performance a “decisive turning point”. “Today is a momentous day for BSNL and for the journey of the telecom sector in India. BSNL has, in the third quarter of FY2024- 25, after 17 long years, registered a profit quarter,” he added.
BSNL had registered tremendous growth in the major segments: mobility services had grown 15 per cent, revenue from FTTH had surged by 18 per cent, and leased line services had increased by 14 per cent year-on-year, the minister said. These have been complemented by a judicious trimming of finance cost and restraint over total expenditure, resulting in a reduction in losses by more than Rs 1,800 crore from the last fiscal, he added.
Consequently, BSNL’s overall loss for FY25 came down to Rs 2,247 crore from Rs 5,370 crore in FY24, an almost 58 per cent decline. Operating revenue increased to Rs 20,841 crore, a 7.8 per cent growth from last year’s Rs 19,330 crore.
CMD Ravi attributed this performance to “professional management, government support, and relentless focus on both the top line and the bottom line.” He emphasised that the company’s aspiration is not only profitability, but redefining public service excellence in telecom. “We will not be chasing profits as our end goal.”. When we consistently do the right things, deliver great service, reach the unreached, innovate for inclusivity profits will follow naturally,” he added.
Building from the ground up
The launch of the Quantum 5G FWA has marked BSNL’s renewed emphasis on innovation and indigenous technology. Built under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the new service is based completely on an indigenous tech stack, comprising the core network, radio access network (RAN), and CPE, all designed and integrated by Indian vendors.
This places BSNL not only as a telecom operator but as a point of India’s digital self-sufficiency. It is an unusual feat in an industry that has historically been controlled by multinational vendors and foreign dependence on technology. The initiative also fits with the government’s vision to build long-term strategic capabilities within India’s strategic sectors of critical infrastructure.
The service also creates a new standard in access technology. By removing SIM cards and complicated setups, Quantum 5G FWA streamlines internet access in urban and semi-urban locations, opening the way for scalable digital inclusion.
Significantly, this new-generation service is being rolled out when private players Jio and Airtel have already launched their 5G FWA services. However, BSNL differs with its SIM-less and indigenous advantage, a breakthrough for affordability and security.
Strategic government support
BSNL’s revival is not only due to operational reforms but also because of political support. In the last couple of years, the NDA government has implemented a series of revival packages, capital injections, and policy initiatives to enable BSNL to compete with its private sector peers.
There was a significant push in the form of the Rs 1.64 lakh crore revival package in 2022 for funding spectrum allotment, 4G and 5G deployment, and restructuring initiatives. This came after previous bailouts such as the Rs 69,000 crore revival plan in 2019.
With this support, BSNL has quickly expanded its 4G network. Of the 100,000 planned towers, 75,000 have already been installed, and around 60,000 have been commissioned, and the complete rollout is expected to be done by June 2025. The vision is to make BSNL a full-fledged 4G/5G player covering both rural and urban India.
According to Minister Scindia, BSNL’s EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) has doubled in the last four years from Rs 1100 crore to Rs 2100 crore, reflecting growing operational strength.
A people-first vision
Furthering its customer-first vision, BSNL has launched three new services in Puducherry on December 23, 2024, aimed at enhancing digital access and entertainment.
BiTV for Mobile Users
Alongside OTTplay, BSNL launched BiTV, an intranet-based mobile streaming service providing 300+ free live TV channels comprising movies, shows, and docs. It is plan-agnostic and operates with BSNL’s in-house network for uninterrupted streaming. CMD A. Robert J. Ravi termed it as a “revolutionary alternative to old PRBT systems.” It will be rolled out across the country after Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand expansion.
Wi-Fi Roaming in Manadipattu
BSNL made Manadipattu village the second completely Wi-Fi-enabled village in India, providing uninterrupted internet through hotspots. FTTH subscribers can log in from anywhere in BSNL Wi-Fi with their home account, and non-BSNL subscribers can access it through UPI payments.
IFTV for FTTH Subscribers
BSNL also introduced Intranet Fibre-Based TV (IFTV), providing FTTH subscribers free access to 500+ live channels with uninterrupted high-quality streaming through the BSNL fibre network.
Combined, these efforts demonstrate BSNL’s transition to a full-service digital service provider, particularly in rural areas.
From survival to significance
BSNL’s revival tale is not one of coming back; it is about going ahead with a mission. It is no longer the backmarker in the telecom industry. It is now pioneering indigenous innovation, repositioning connectivity models, and demonstrating that a public sector behemoth can be nimble, competitive, and visionary.
With two successful quarters behind it, the introduction of Quantum 5G FWA, and a definite vision for the future, BSNL is becoming a beacon of national ability and dedication. It is not merely connecting India; it is motivating it.
Comments