BSNL employee union writes to PM Modi to mandate states, departments, PSUs to use BSNL 4G services

Bharatiya Doorsanchar Manch (BDM) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting mandatory use of BSNL Swadeshi 4G Services by all the Central Government organizations, State Government organizations, CPSUs, State PSUs to promote Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Telecom Technology. According to the letter, such a mandate will support national security and data sovereignty, provide financial support to BSNL, optimize public fund utilization, and catalyze the homegrown telecom ecosystem. The association represents several BSNL employee unions.

In view of the government of India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and with the objective of strengthening indigenous capabilities in telecom technology, BDM through the letter suggested that the adoption of BSNL’s Swadeshi 4G services be made mandatory for all mobile connections wherever expenditure is reimbursed from public funds including all central and state government and public sector entities.

BDM also requested to consider request for making use of Swadeshi 4G mandatory for all the Government Organizations, State Government Departments, Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs), State Public Sector Undertakings (SPSUs), and all employees of Central Government, State Governments, CPSUs, and SPSUs who claim reimbursement of mobile expenditure from government or PSU funds for official mobile communications.

BSNL is currently in the midst of critical phases of 4G and 5G network rollouts, supported by the Centre’s revival packages, but it is facing increased competition from private operators Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) that provide commercial fifth-generation (5G) network services.