State-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is set to launch 4G services in two weeks and upgrade them to 5G by the end of the year.

What Happened? BSNL has started setting up its 4G network at 200 sites after running trials for three months, union information technology and communications minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and ITI Ltd were handed advance purchase orders worth more than ₹19,000 crore to deploy BSNL’s 4G network.

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The loss-making state-run telco lags far behind competitors like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel in terms of technology and subscriber count.

“BSNL network will work initially like 4G. Very soon, somewhere around November- December, with a very small software adjustment this will become 5G,” Vaishnaw said. He added that 2 lakh 4G sites had already been completed, and he expects more than 3 lakh sites to be ready by the end of the year.

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