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CMD Robert Ravi assures BSNL is focussed on Improving services and not Increasing tariffs

by VARINDIA 2024-10-25

BSNL was the only telco that did not raise tariffs in June when larger rivals Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea increased them by 10-21%. Jio and Airtel also started charging for 5G services on unlimited usage plans, beginning the trend of monetisation of 5G in India. India's fourth-largest telco will focus on improving the quality of services to retain customers that it has gained from rivals over the past quarter.

During a recent press briefing, Robert Ravi, Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL emphasized that BSNL is committed to providing affordable telecom services to its customers, particularly in rural and remote areas where private operators have limited reach. He acknowledged the competitive pressures within the telecom industry but reassured consumers that BSNL will continue to deliver value without imposing additional financial burdens through tariff increases. Assuring the consumers, he said, "BSNL is India's fourth-largest telecom company. I can say for certain that BSNL will not be raising tariffs in the near future."

State-owned BSNL gained 2.9 million mobile phone users in July while others lost subscribers, according to the telecom regulator's data issued last month. The company had 88.5 million mobile phone users, or about 7.5% of the nation’s total.

Also, recently it unveiled its new logo along with the seven new services. BSNL has come up with its own 4G telecom stack, which can be migrated to 5G. BSNL will have 100,000 4G sites by the middle of next year and graduate some sites to 5G by then. The telco will begin with 4G and go on to a 4G saturation project along with the Bharat Net rollout to cater to the entire country.

Ravi’s assurance of no tariff hikes comes as a relief for millions of BSNL subscribers, particularly at a time when many consumers are facing financial constraints. This decision reflects BSNL's mission to serve the public with affordable and accessible telecom services, while its long-term focus remains on upgrading technology and enhancing user satisfaction.