5G and 6G are being touted worldwide, Why has BSNL suddenly become aggressive on 4G? The planning is far-reaching. Understand this..

A few days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved ₹37,000 crore for BSNL's network expansion in Odisha. This will further strengthen BSNL's 4G network in the country. However, a question arises. With the rapid growth of telecom in India, private companies are focusing on 5G, and the world is now preparing for 6G. At this time, BSNL's sudden and aggressive expansion of its 4G network has surprised many. The question arises: why is BSNL placing so much emphasis on 4G when 5G is already being implemented in large parts of the country?

In reality, BSNL's strategy is not just to acquire the latest technology, but to develop its own indigenous network. This means that the company will build its network using technology developed in India rather than relying on foreign vendors. This is why BSNL's 4G plan is not just a network expansion, but also a sign of self-reliance in India's telecom industry.
 

Why Indigenous Networks are Special

Most of India's major network operators have so far relied on technology from foreign vendors. For example:

Airtel has partnered with Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung for its 5G launch. While these companies' network gear, base stations, radio units, and core network systems are installed in India, the technology and control are primarily imported. Even security and software updates come from these vendors, making India completely dependent on them for technology. This means that if there is a political or geopolitical crisis, India's network operations could be affected.

BSNL is moving away from this model and implementing a fully indigenous 4G network. C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics) has developed the 4G core network solution, while public sector companies like ITI Ltd. and TCIL (Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd.) are involved in hardware and integration.

This means that the brain (core network), the backbone (radio units and base stations), and the management layer of BSNL's network will all be based on Indian technology. This will be the first time that a major telecom company will operate a 100% indigenous network in India.

How will it outperform private operators?
Major private networks have rapidly rolled out 5G, but their infrastructure is not completely indigenous. BSNL claims that its 4G network will be more customized and cost-efficient because it has been designed with India's needs in mind. Furthermore, BSNL's biggest advantage is its reach into remote and rural areas of the country. Where installing 5G towers is currently not cost-effective, 4G indigenous networks will provide connectivity to millions of users. It's worth noting that India still has a large population using 4G-enabled mobile phones. BSNL wants to provide a good network to those people first.

Why will accessing 5G become easier?
BSNL's 4G is essentially the foundation for the future 5G journey. The indigenous 4G core and radio network are designed to be easily upgraded and converted to 5G. This means that while private operators invest in foreign technology, BSNL will be able to directly convert its own developed systems to 5G. If this model is successful, India could become a global leader not only in 5G but also in 6G research and deployment.

5G is growing rapidly in India and according to government data, till now around 25 crore mobile subscribers are using 5G services whereas industry reports put it at around 3.65 crore, the reason for this difference is the calculation method of different sources but it is clear that the reach of 5G phones and networks is increasing rapidly, IDC study says that out of the total smartphone users in India, only about one-third have 5G enabled phones and the rest are still dependent on 4G devices, which means that the pace of 5G adoption is fast but its reach is not yet spread evenly across the country.

What does this mean for India?

BSNL's move isn't just a company strategy, but a major step towards India's digital sovereignty. If India can develop and operate its own telecom technology, its impact will be felt at three levels.

Security: Foreign vendors' control over data will end.

Economic strength: India itself can become a hub for telecom equipment manufacturing.

Connectivity: Affordable and reliable networks will reach every village.