Executive Summary:
This document is the answer provided by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 668 regarding customer attrition from BSNL, specifically addressing concerns raised about Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Dadra Nagar Haveli. It details BSNL's efforts to address customer attrition, enhance rural connectivity, and improve data services, including the deployment of indigenous 4G technology, as of June 30, 2025, and July 7, 2025. The answer references data collected and published by TRAI.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Customer Attrition Data:** Details regarding subscribers for various Telecom Service Providers, including BSNL, are available on the TRAI website.
* **4G Deployment:**
* BSNL has placed purchase orders for indigenously developed 4G sites for pan-India deployment, aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
* Supply of 4G equipment started in September 2023.
* As of June 30, 2025, 95,537 4G sites have been installed, with 90,035 sites On-Air.
* The equipment is 5G upgradable.
* **4G Saturation Project (Rural Connectivity):**
* BSNL is executing a 4G Saturation Project to enhance network infrastructure and service quality in rural areas, including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Dadra Nagar Haveli.
* **Madhya Pradesh:** 1,490 sites planned; 1,134 sites installed as of June 30, 2025.
* **Maharashtra:** 2,572 sites planned; 1,994 sites installed as of June 30, 2025.
* **Dadra Nagar Haveli:** 17 sites planned; 16 sites installed as of June 30, 2025.
* **Phase IX.2 Project (4G Upgrades):**
* **Madhya Pradesh:** 4,809 sites planned for upgrade; 3,407 sites upgraded as of June 30, 2025.
* **Maharashtra:** 11,161 sites planned for upgrade; 6,714 sites upgraded as of June 30, 2025.
* **Dadra Nagar Haveli:** 72 sites planned for upgrade; 57 sites upgraded as of June 30, 2025.
* **Bharat Net Project (Optical Fiber Connectivity):**
* **Madhya Pradesh:** 17,850 Gram Panchayats (GPs) connected with Optical Fiber Connectivity (OFC) as of July 7, 2025.
* **Maharashtra:** 24,575 GPs connected with OFC as of July 7, 2025.
* **Dadra Nagar Haveli:** 20 GPs connected with OFC as of July 7, 2025.
Impact Analysis:
**TRAI:**
* Impact: TRAI's role as the collector and publisher of telecom service provider data, including BSNL, is reaffirmed.
* Action Required: Continue collecting and publishing data on telecom service providers, including BSNL, to monitor subscriber trends.
**BSNL:**
* Impact: BSNL is undertaking significant infrastructure upgrades and expansion projects, including 4G deployment, rural connectivity enhancements, and fiber optic connectivity.
* Action Required: Continue 4G site installations, upgrades under Phase IX.2, and expansion of optical fiber connectivity under the Bharat Net Project.
**Customers (including those in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Dadra Nagar Haveli):**
* Impact: Customers should experience improved connectivity and data services, particularly in rural areas, due to BSNL's infrastructure upgrades.
* Action Required: Monitor the availability and performance of BSNL services in their respective areas and provide feedback to BSNL as needed.
**Ministry of Communications/Department of Telecommunications:**
* Impact: Overseeing BSNL's initiatives to enhance connectivity and reduce customer attrition.
* Action Required: Monitor the progress of BSNL's projects and assess the impact on customer satisfaction and market competitiveness.
Key Entities Referenced
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL): A telecommunications service provider in India, facing customer attrition issues and undertaking various projects to improve services, including 4G deployment and rural connectivity enhancements.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India where BSNL is implementing 4G Saturation Project and Phase IX.2 project to enhance network infrastructure, also connected through Bharat Net Project.
Maharashtra: A state in India where BSNL is implementing 4G Saturation Project and Phase IX.2 project to enhance network infrastructure, also connected through Bharat Net Project.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli: A Union Territory in India where BSNL is implementing 4G Saturation Project and Phase IX.2 project to enhance network infrastructure, also connected through Bharat Net Project.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The regulatory body that collects and publishes data on telecom service providers, including BSNL.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: An initiative of the Government of India, in line with which BSNL has placed purchase orders for indigenously developed 4G sites.
4G Saturation Project: A BSNL project aimed at enhancing network infrastructure and service quality in rural areas.
Bharat Net Project: A project focused on providing optical fiber connectivity to Gram Panchayats (GPs) across India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 668
ANSWERED ON 23RD JULY, 2025
CUSTOMERS ATTRITION FROM BSNL
†668. SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:
SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM:
SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:
DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of customer attrition including percentage of customers leaving and availing
BSNL services across the country, State/UT-wise particularly in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and
Dadra & Nagar Haveli during the last five years, year-wise
(b) the specific steps taken/being taken by the BSNL to overcome the challenges responsible for
customer attrition across the country including the above States and UT along with the outcome or
improvements noticed through the said steps;
(c) whether BSNL has taken any special initiatives to enhance connectivity in the rural areas of
the above said States and UT, if so, the details thereof;
(d) the details of the technological advancements being made by BSNL to enhance its ability to
provide high-speed data services especially as compared to its competitors providing 5G services;
and
(e) the details of the same with regard to the said States and UT thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) to (e) The details of subscribers in the country for various Telecom Service Providers
including BSNL as collected and published by TRAI from time to time are available on its website.
In line with Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, BSNL has placed purchase order for indigenously
developed 4G sites for pan India deployment. Supply of 4G equipment has started from September
2023 and as on 30.06.2025, total 95,537 numbers 4G sites have been installed, out of which 90,035
numbers are ON-Air. The equipment is 5G upgradable.
BSNL is executing 4G Saturation Project to enhance its network infrastructure and service
quality in rural areas including in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Union Territory
Dadra & Nagar Haveli. In 4G Saturation Project, total 1,490 4G sites are planned in Madhya Pradesh
out of which 1,134 sites have been installed, total 2,572 4G sites are planned in Maharashtra out of
1which 1,994 sites have been installed and total 17 4G sites are planned in Dadar & Nagar Haveli out
of which 16 sites have been installed, as on 30.06.2025.
Further, under Phase IX.2 project, total 4,809 4G sites are planned to be upgraded in Madhya
Pradesh out of which 3,407 sites have been installed, total 11,161 4G sites are planned to be upgraded
in Maharashtra circle out of which 6,714 sites have been installed and total 72 4G sites are planned
to be upgraded in Dadra & Nagar Haveli out of which 57 sites have been installed, as on 30.06.2025.
Furthermore, 17,850 Gram Panchayats (GPs) of Madhya Pradesh, 24,575 GPs of
Maharashtra and 20 GPs of Dadra & Nagar Haveli have been connected with Optical Fiber
Connectivity (OFC) under Bharat Net Project as on 07.07.2025.
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