BSNL mobile towers expansion: 50,000–60,000 more sites planned after Rs 20,000 crore 4G rollout

BSNL planned to add 50,000-60,000 more mobile towers to strengthen network coverage. Union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said BSNL also expected double-digit growth in operating profit this fiscal. Scindia spoke on Thursday at the Times Now Summit. The minister said BSNL’s 4G rollout would support a quick move to 5G.

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BSNL’s subscriber base also increased over recent months, Scindia said. The company had 8.55 crore subscribers in June 2024. It now had 9.27 crore subscribers, according to the minister. Scindia also said BSNL recorded a quarterly profit of Rs 262 crore. The profit came after an 18-year gap.

BSNL mobile towers and 4G network expansion

Scindia said BSNL made its largest single-year capital spend to build its 4G network. The outlay stood at Rs 20,000 crore, Scindia said. The network was set up so it could later be upgraded to 5G. The minister said BSNL already had around one lakh towers operating and sending 4G signals.

"Today, 1 lakh towers of BSNL are on the ground... radiating 4G signal on our own Atmanirbhar stack. The basis on which we are now looking to expand that network. So, 98,000 towers to be exact are pretty much done. We are trying to expand that to another 50,000- 60,000 towers. Ensure the robustness of that network and then very quickly switch to 5G,\" he said at Times Now Summit.

Scindia said the shift from 4G to 5G should be easier because of the design. BSNL’s system used a self-reliant indigenous Atmanirbhar 4G stack, Scindia said. The minister added that more mobile sites would still be needed. The core network software would also need updates for 5G.

BSNL operating profit and EBITDA performance

Scindia shared operating earnings details using the EBITDA measure. \"On an EBITDA basis, in 2023-2024, on an operating margin basis, we made close to Rs 2,395 crores. We are now spinning out cash. In 2024-2025, that grew to Rs 5,100 crores. My hope is that this year, which closes next week, we should increase that Rs 5,000 crore operating profit by double-digit figures in fiscal 2025-26,\" Scindia said.

The minister’s comments linked BSNL’s tower expansion with its financial targets. BSNL planned to add new towers after completing about 98,000 sites, Scindia said. The plan aimed to make the network stronger and support a faster 5G changeover. Scindia also pointed to recent subscriber gains and a return to quarterly profit.

With inputs from PTI