BSNL launches 4G site in Kolkata
In support of the government’s goals of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, BSNL is actively deploying the India 4G/5G stack (indigenous stack).
On January 1, 2021, BSNL issued an expression of interest (EoI) for the proof of concept (PoC). By October 2022, BSNL had floated a tender for the installation of 100,000 4G sites. This effort is part of the Phase IX.2 4G project, which involves collaborations with domestic companies such as TCS as the system integrator, Tejas Networks as the radio access network (RAN) provider and C-DOT as the core provider. Notably, the equipment procured through this project is 5G upgradable.
Additionally, BSNL is spearheading a 4G saturation project assigned by the Central government to extend 4G mobile services to remote and challenging terrains across India.
This project utilises indigenous technology to connect 24,600 uncovered villages in rural and hilly areas, significantly bridging the digital divide. The initiative is crucial for ensuring that underserved regions gain access to reliable mobile services and are integrated into the digital economy.
In Kolkata, BSNL’s telecom district is set to proudly launch its first indigenous 4G site at Ballygunge Telephone Exchange on Wednesday, May 22. This marks the beginning of a phased rollout that will eventually cover the entire city of Kolkata and the rest of Bengal with a 4G network.
