In a move that stands out in the current telecom landscape, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), India’s fourth-largest telecom company, has announced it will not be raising tariffs in the near future. This decision comes as a stark contrast to larger competitors like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, all of whom increased their tariffs by 10-21% in June. Instead of focusing on price increases, BSNL is prioritizing the enhancement of service quality and the introduction of innovative new services to retain the customer base it gained from its rivals over the past quarter.
This strategic shift is evident in the launch of a suite of new services, seven in total, unveiled by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. These include BSNL’s very own 4G telecom stack, a significant achievement for India, as it can be easily migrated to 5G. The company is also introducing a range of customer-focused initiatives:
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Spam Protection:
BSNL has implemented spam-blocking solutions to filter out phishing attempts and malicious SMS, creating a safer communication environment for its users.*
Automated SIM Kiosks:
These 24/7 kiosks allow customers to purchase, upgrade, port, or replace SIMs conveniently, leveraging UPI or QR enabled payments with seamless KYC integration and multi-lingual access.*
Direct-to-Device Connectivity:
India’s first direct-to-device connectivity solution, combining satellite and terrestrial mobile networks, delivers reliable connectivity even in emergency situations and isolated regions. This technology also facilitates UPI payments in such areas.BSNL is also stepping up its 4G rollout, aiming for 100,000 4G sites by the middle of next year, and subsequently graduating some sites to 5G. This will involve a nationwide 4G saturation project in conjunction with the Bharat Net rollout, ensuring nationwide coverage.
Further enhancing its service portfolio, BSNL is partnering with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing to provide low latency 5G connectivity for mining operations. Utilizing Made in India equipment and BSNL’s technological expertise, this private 5G service will initially be offered to 50 mines and will subsequently be extended to 16 other sectors across government departments, including roads and transport.
In a further customer-centric move, BSNL is introducing intranet TV services for all FTTH (fibre broadband to home) subscribers, offering over 500 live channels and pay TV options, free of charge. The data used for TV streaming will not count against users’ data allowance.
Despite the recent challenging market dynamics, BSNL is clearly demonstrating its commitment to serving the Indian people. The company’s impressive subscriber growth, coupled with its focus on innovation, service quality, and customer satisfaction, positions it as a key player in the evolving telecom landscape. With its new initiatives and a strong foundation, BSNL is poised to rise to new challenges and continue its journey of providing reliable and affordable connectivity for all Indians.