BSNL may soon offer 4G services as DoT deploys telco fresh pan India liberalised spectrum

 Government-owned telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) may soon provide 4G services to users all over India as the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has allotted the telco fresh Pan India liberalised spectrum. The DoT released the notice inviting applications (NIA) for Spectrum Auction 2021 which will be held in March.

The auction process will include the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, and 2500 MHz bands. DoT has put 2251.25 MHz spectrum with a total valuation of Rs 3,92,332.70 crores to auction.

BSNL has been allotted an additional block of 5 MHz in the 2100 MHz band in 20 telecom circles, including Mumbai but excluding Delhi and Rajasthan. It has been allotted a 5 MHz block in the 850 MHz band in Rajasthan and a 10 MHz block in the 1800 MHz band in Delhi circle with a 20 years validity up to 2040, Only Tech reported.

BSNL’s existing 900 MHz and 1800 MHz spectrum will simultaneously be used by the telco because of the large 2G subscriber base BSNL has in India.

Reliance Jio is expected to show maximum participation in the auction owing to the soon to expire airwaves in about 12 to 14 telecom circles starting July 2021, ET Telecom reported. It currently shares airwaves with Reliance Communications in the 800 MHz bands.

Further, Airtel and Vi may not go big on the spectrum auction and there are fewer chances of a bidding war due to the large availability of spectrum. In related news, Vodafone Idea, which was freshly rebranded as Vi commenced the process of 3G spectrum migration to 4G in all sites of Delhi and NCR. Vi has deployed 5 MHz of 2100 MHz spectrum band in the city for the refarming process. Vi noted that it will continue to offer 2G services in the capital.

Earlier this week, Vi re-farmed the 3G spectrum to 4G across all sites in Mumbai. Vi noted that it was ramping up with the migration of 3G spectrum to 4G, to give users Vi GIGAnet 4G with the triple advantages of wider coverage, network quality as well as stronger traffic carriage capacity. Vi customers will be able to enjoy higher download and upload speeds apart from better indoor coverage.