4G, 5G tech to be deployed by August 15 in BSNL network

A TCS-led consortium with the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) has developed indigenous 4G and 5G network technologies which will be deployed in the BSNL network by August 15.

The consortium is said to be developed at a cost of around USD 30 million indigenously while global telecom giants invest billions of dollars in the technology development.

The Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has recommended that the BSNL should be allocated spectrum for rolling out 5G services at par with private telecom operators in the country.

C-DoT Executive Director Rajkumar Upadhyay said, “This consortium is led by TCS which is a software power in itself. What was preventing us earlier was the hardware. Today my 4G core is totally virtualised. If you want to run a small network you can run it on a PC. If you want to run it for a carrier like BSNL, it will require 30-40 servers. Because of softwarisation, now companies like TCS have a much bigger role.”

The government has made a provision of Rs. 45,000 cr for BSNL to roll out the 4G network. BSNL has been conducting trials for 4G networks with a TCS-led consortium which includes C-DoT as a technology partner.