BSNL the Indian telecommunication service provider is gearing up to launch 4G services in India across 14 telecom circles where it is having 20 MHz liberalized broadband wireless access spectrum. BSNL has already soft launched 4G services in Chandigarh and the company is having 20HZ liberalized spectrum in 2,500 MHz band allowing it to roll out 4G services in India without the licensing hurdles faced by other telecommunication companies.
With Reliance Jio also planning to launch its 4G LTE services in India and news about the SIM cards being prepared along with Reliance Digital stores prepping up for the launch. The 4G circle is getting competitive with even BSNL entering into the competition.
BSNL is exploring two methods for the roll out of 4G services, a revenue sharing model and a capex model. It is being said that BSNL will be providing passive infrastructure and spectrum wile a third-party vendors will arrange the BTS. With most of the smartphone manufacturers like Apple, Motorola, Lenovo, Google, etc having 2500 MHz band support.
During the soft launch in Chandigarh the company demonstrated speeds of 35 Mbps and will be joining the likes of Airtel, Idea Cellular, Vodafone and the up coming Reliance Jio. BSNL has paid Rs. 8,313.80 crore for 2,500 MHz spectrum for all its service areas but later returned airwaves in 6 of them. The company has not yet finalized a timeline for the launch of its services. For the capex model, BSNL will procure essential long-term evolution (LTE) elements and go ahead with the soft launch to test out the BTS and capex models before finalizing on one.
It is going to be a great year ahead with 4G LTE services being rolled out by other telecom providers as well. The launch of 4G LTE services will be intensifying the competition in the market benefiting the user in the end.
