BSNL is planning to float EoI (Expression of Interest) for 4G services in 25 cities by December, 2015.
Speaking to TeleAnalysis, Anupam Shrivastava, CMD, BSNL said, “The eco-system for 2.6 GHz is developing fast and we are planning to float EoI for 4G services in 25 cities By December, 2015.”
The expression of interest will lay the ground rules for deployment of 4G services in 25 cities based on revenue sharing model or outright purchase of equipment. It is still not clear which model BSNL is opting for 4G services deployment in 25 cities.
BSNL has already surrendered 4G license in six circles- Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kolkata. Out of the six circles, five are category A circles and one is metro circle so BSNL is still left with 4G in 14 circles and the company is planning to launch services in these circles.
With 14 circles – Kerala, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, UP (E), UP (W), Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, North East, Orissa under its fold, BSNL is planning to pick up capital city and the second populous city from all states for 4G deployment in the first phase.
State run telecom operator, BSNL is planning to launch 4G services in Chandigarh and Jaipur before March 2016 but remaining cities will be operational most likely in second half of 2016.
BSNL is presently conducting 4G proof of concept (PoC) in Indore and Lucknow with Gemini Communications as the equipment provider for both the cities.
At present, BSNL offers high speed data services in WiMax technology and offers wireline broadband services based on traditional DSL and ADSL based broadband technology. However, BSNL’s WiMax services are offered in pockets and not very wide spread.