Erode and Tirunelveli will soon get 4G service from BSNL: Report

Customers of BSNL who currently have 2G or 3G SIM cards can upgrade to 4G SIM cards for free at any franchisee showroom or retail location.

State-owned telecommunications provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is anticipated to shortly introduce 4G services in the Tirunelveli district and the Erode business district as stated in a report by TheHindu. Customers are urged to switch their old BSNL 2G/3G SIM cards for 4G SIM cards at specific customer care centres in order to take advantage of the improved services.

The news article cited The Erode revenue district as well as the Kangeyam and Dharapuram sections of the Tiruppur revenue district are included in the coverage region, according to Krishna Kumar, general manager of BSNL's Erode Business region.

The Erode Telecom District's 324 current towers will be updated from 2G/3G to 4G to assist the switch to 4G, and new towers will be built in places with patchy coverage. According to an official announcement, all 309 current towers in the Tirunelveli Operational Area will be upgraded to 4G using the 10 MHz spectrum, the report stated. Additionally, BSNL intends to build 46 more new 4G towers in the Tirunelveli Operational Area, improving mobile coverage in the neighbourhood.

According to a press release, all of these towers are anticipated to be converted to 5G technology in the near future without the need for modifications to the tower hardware or SIM cards. Due to the built-in 5G capability of these towers, a smooth transition to 5G will be possible through software updates.

Customers are encouraged to ensure that their devices are outfitted with 4G-enabled SIM cards in order to take use of the high-speed 4G internet services. Customers of BSNL who currently have 2G or 3G SIM cards can upgrade to 4G SIM cards for free at any franchisee showroom or retail location.

The Union Cabinet has also recently approved the third revival package for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), which happens to be a significant development.This complete package, which would cost a total of Rs 89,047 crore, intends to revive BSNL and establish it as a dependable telecom service provider with a particular interest and emphasis on enhancing connectivity in rural parts of India.

The first revival package, totaling Rs 69,000 crore, was approved in 2019, marking the beginning of the process to revive BSNL and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL). This package was crucial in bringing both counterparts’ operations under control.

Following which , the government approved the second rejuvenation package in 2022, totaling Rs. 1.64 lakh crore. This complete package included a number of essential components, including finance for capital expenditures, funds to close the viability gap for rural landlines, debt restructuring, payment of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues, and the merging of BBNL and BSNL.

These relief packages drastically reduced BSNL’s overall debt from Rs 32,944 crore to Rs 22,289 crore and helped the company return to operating profitability starting in the fiscal year 2021–2022 (FY 2021–2022).