New Delhi: Big telecom companies in the country have shocked the customers by making their prepaid plans expensive, after which now more money will have to be spent for recharge. Reliance Jio, Airtel, Vodafone have all increased the price of their plans. On the other hand, the country’s state-run telecom company BSNL is planning to launch 4G services in the country soon.
BSNL has given time till September 2022 for the rollout of 4G services. Such a rollout is expected to raise around Rs 900 crore in the first year.
Minister of State for Communications, Devusinh Chouhan, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, clarified that no proposal for disinvestment of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) is under consideration. As per the audited financial statements, the assets of BSNL and MTNL as on September 30, 2021 are Rs 1,33,952 crore and Rs 3,556 crore respectively. The value of the asset has been worked out on the basis of historical cost.
As per the financial statements, the netblock of property, plant and equipment in respect of BSNL and MTNL as on March 2021 is Rs 89,878 crore and Rs 3,252 crore respectively. The total liabilities of BSNL and MTNL as on September 30, 2021 are Rs 85,721 crore and Rs 30,159 crore respectively.
Replying to another question on BSNL’s 4G services, the minister said that the company has given September 2022 as the deadline to roll out its 4G services across India. “BSNL has estimated that with a pan-India 4G rollout, it expects an incremental revenue of around Rs 900 crore in the first year from operations,” he said.
BSNL invited Expression of Interest in January 2021 for Proof of Concept (PoC) for Indian companies wishing to participate in its upcoming 4G tender. The government approved the revival plan for BSNL and MTNL including administrative allocation of spectrum for providing 4G services with funding through budgetary allocation.
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