Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a state-run telecom operator in India, has boosted 4G in rural Kerala. The development is for the Kollam region. This is the telecom operator’s effort for eliminating the network dead zones in the state. The target of BSNL are areas or pockets which do not currently have mobile networks. This will push the economic development in the region and communities which were so far excluded from the digital opportunity for growth.
BSNL has Installed 18 New Towers Already
As part of the rural network expansion, BSNL has already deployed 18 new towers and has successfully commissioned to deliver high-speed 4G network coverage. For Kollam region, the newly installed 4G towers are located in the rural areas including, Cherukara, Kocharippa, Vanchiyodu, Peruvazhikkala, Achencoil ST Colony, Plamoodu-Vellimon, Rajachola, Panayam-Eroor, Eyyakkodu-Kadakkal, Rajakoop-Rosmala, Priya Estate-Aryankavu, Karayalanmerth, Thenmala Dam, Aduthala, Ashtamudi, Kelankavu, Kumbhavurutty and Moonnumukku.
BSNL and Private Telcos to Bridge Digital Divide in India
This widespread development will bridge the digital divide not just in Kerala, but the entire India. BSNL will not be alone in Kerala when it comes to rural network expansion. The private telecom operators are also amping up their efforts to reach rural India. With BSNL expanding now, they will only do it faster to win the market share competition.
Digital Bharat Nidhi Will be Pushing the Boundaries with BSNL
BSNL is getting a lot of support from the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), earlier used to be called Universal Service Obliation Fund (USOF). The fund has been created by the central government to ensure that whenever there are network expansion projects which require monetary support in the rural regions, or to bridge digital divide, the help can be extended.
Kollam is not the only region in Kerala which BSNL targeted for rural network expansion in the recent months. There are other parts of the state as well. Kerala is a priority market for BSNL, and the telecom operator will not want to lose out on the opportunity to bank on long-term users in the rural region which could add to the revenues in the coming year.
BSNL Planning to Win the Long Term Game
BSNL wants to win the long race. The state-run telecom operator has found it hard to succeed without 4G. That is why, it expanded the 4G network access to new regions in the country with the help of indigenous technology which came from companies like Tejas Networks, Tata Consutltancy Services (TCS) and Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT).
In the long run, with affordable 4G services, BSNL wants to win the market share back, that it lost t0 the private telcos.
Source: https://telecomtalk.info/bsnl-4g-spreads-to-rural-india/1008093/
