BSNL will install 1,857 indigenous 4G sites across Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh under its 4G Saturation and Phase 9.2 projects, with 5G rollout planned after network stabilisation.
DIMAPUR — Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will install 1,857 indigenous 4G sites under two ongoing projects across Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, BSNL Chief General Manager, NE-II Circle, Ramashray Prasad said on Thursday.
Of the total, 1,189 sites are being installed under the 4G Saturation Project and 668 under BSNL’s Phase 9.2 project, Prasad said while interacting with media persons in Dimapur following a 5-km run organised as part of BSNL’s 26th foundation day celebrations.
He said the government had mandated BSNL to “saturate” villages by setting up telecom towers, enabling people in remote areas to access 4G services.
Around 1,800 towers have already been rolled out in rural areas across the three northeastern states, with the sites being powered through green-energy solutions, including solar power and battery backup, he said.
In Nagaland, Dilip Siram, PGM, NE-II Circle, said around 75% of the 4G Saturation Project had been completed, while approximately 95% of the Phase 9.2 project was complete.
The remaining work under the latter project is expected to be completed shortly, he said, adding that completion of both projects is expected to provide 4G connectivity to all villages in the state.
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Siram said BSNL would roll out 5G services once its 4G network stabilises, enabling the company to compete with private telecom operators.
Prasad said BSNL was also connecting Gram Panchayats and villages through optical fibre under the Amended BharatNet project.
Unlike earlier phases, the latest project has wider coverage and aims to extend optical-fibre connectivity to more villages.
He said BSNL was focusing on providing quality, safe, reliable and affordable telecom services while contributing to Digital India and nation-building.
He described competition with private operators as healthy, saying it encouraged telecom companies to improve their services.
Prasad said BSNL had progressed from offering 2G and 3G services to 4G and would soon introduce 5G services.
Zarenthung Kikon, DGM, Nagaland BA, said around 1.70 lakh people in Nagaland had subscribed to BSNL services, with the subscriber base increasing every month.
Highlighting the Northeast’s vulnerability to natural disasters, Kikon said BSNL remained service-oriented rather than profit-oriented, with particular emphasis on providing connectivity in remote and border areas, including those adjoining Myanmar.
He said BSNL personnel and infrastructure remained operational round-the-clock during disasters and appealed to people to use BSNL services, particularly in view of the importance of reliable communication during emergencies.
Prasad also said BSNL was offering SIM cards for INR 1 with Aadhaar-based registration, along with one month of free voice calls, data and 100 SMS at a nominal charge.
As part of its BSNL Day celebrations, the company has announced a new INR 349 prepaid Special Tariff Voucher (STV), effective from October 3. The plan offers unlimited voice calls, unlimited data and 100 SMS per day for 28 days.
The plan is intended for personal and non-commercial use, with data speed restricted to 40 Kbps after usage exceeds 300 GB. Usage beyond the 300 GB limit will be considered commercial.
BSNL has also announced an additional 15 days’ validity on its INR 2,399 prepaid plan for recharges made between October 1 and 15.
The plan’s validity will increase from 365 to 380 days under the offer, which will not apply to the Delhi and Mumbai Business Areas.
The 5-km run, held on the theme “Health is Real Wealth”, was flagged off by Prasad from the OCB Exchange and culminated at the General Manager Telecom District Office, Dimapur. The foundation day was observed on the theme “Hamara BSNL”.