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🌍 Meet BSNL: India’s Telecom Pioneer
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), founded in the 1980s, remains one of the country’s largest state-run telecom providers, offering fixed-line and mobile (GSM) services nationwide
- Mobile subscribers: ~121 million (12.1 crore)
- Wireline (landline) base: ~9.6 million, commanding nearly 47% of that market segment
On May 31, 2023, BSNL reported 2.12 million broadband and mobile broadband users, utilizing over 84,000 2G and 62,000 3G BTSs, and about 8,600 4G-ready towers
📶 BSNL SIM: Value-Driven & Diverse
BSNL SIM cards power its extensive GSM network and deliver:
- Prepaid & Postpaid plans with voice, data, VVoIP, VoLTE, and VoWiFi support
- Affordable prepaid bundles: Popular options like ₹99 for unlimited voice (17 days), or ₹347 for 54 days with 2 GB/day + unlimited calling + BiTV access
- Value-adds: BiTV (free mobile TV), IPTV, cloud services, VPN, etc.
Reddit users rave:
“BSNL has installed 75,000 new 4G mobile towers… on track to test 5G… working on a satellite network…”
📊 Subscriber Trends & Market Position
- Mixed performance: BSNL added ~50,000 subscribers in March 2025 after several months but saw declines of ~155,000 in April and ~1.35 million in May
- Fierce competition: Jio and Airtel dominated, adding ~21 lakh and ~12 lakh new users in March; May saw Jio add ~27 lakh, Airtel ~2.75 lakh
- Market share: As of April 2025, Jio leads (~40.8%), Airtel (~33.7%), Vi (~17.7%), and BSNL holds ~7.8%
📶 BSNL Tower Benefits
- Extensive rural coverage: BSNL’s infrastructure spans remote and economically less-attractive areas, offering connectivity where private carriers often don’t
- Infrastructure leasing: Private players (especially Jio) lease over 12,500 BSNL towers, generating more than ₹1,000 crore/year and enabling faster roll-outs without new construction
- Quality voice network: Users report strong and stable voice-call quality in regions like Kerala and Ranchi, often preferring BSNL for voice clarity
- Strong backup in fringe areas: Travelers often find BSNL the only available network at sacred temples or remote Assam towns
✅ Conclusion✅ Conclusion
Choose BSNL if your priority is voice call clarity, backup in remote areas, or budget plans.
