BSNL-MTNL to get spectrum for 5G services through administrative allotment: Prasad

State owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (BSNL) will get spectrum for providing 5G services through administrative allotment, Minister of Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad yesterday briefed the Rajya Sabha.

Even though BSNL-MTNL are yet to start 4G services due to delay in tendering process with spectrum earmarked for 4G services of BSNL-MTNL yet to be formally allotted, the Government has approved allotment of spectrum for 5G services on the same principle as proposed for allotment of spectrum for 4G services.

“Government also approved to administratively allot spectrum for providing 5G services to BSNL/MTNL, spectrum for maintaining current operations and future services on the same principle as proposed for allotment of spectrum for 4G services,” said Ravi Shankar Prasad in Rajya Sabha.

The development notably comes even before 5G services are yet to start in India. BSNL-MTNL notably last year filed applications with DoT for 5G field trials. DoT till date has around 20 applications from all active telecom service providers including public and private sector operators.

The Government has allocated Rs 24,084 crores for spectrum for 4G services of BSNL-MTNL. BSNL has plans to install around 1 lakh 4G nodes with already total of 8,629 4G e-Nodes operational in its mobile network as of 31st December 2020. The company already has 4G services LIVE on a limited availability across the country in select places using exisiting spectrum for 4G services.