Parliament Question: Performance of BSNL

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4346 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02ND APRIL, 2026 PERFORMANCE OF BSNL 4346 DR. ASHOK KUMAR MITTAL: Will the Minister of Communications be pleased to state: (a) the quantum of public funds injected into Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) through multiple revival packages during the last five years; (b) whether BSNL continues to register operational losses and market share erosion despite these bailouts; (c) the reasons for delays in launching indigenous 4G and 5G services; (d) the details of vendor supply failures causing delays in network equipment deployment; and (e) the steps taken to strictly audit the efficacy of these revival packages? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR) (a) & (b) Government has approved revival packages to BSNL as mentioned below:  In 2019, first revival package amounting to around ₹ 69,000 Crores was given that brought down the operating costs of BSNL .  In 2022, revival package amounting to around ₹ 1,64,000 Crores was given .It focused on infusing fresh capital, restructuring debt, viability gap funding for rural telephony etc .  In 2023, Government approved the allotment of 4G/5G spectrum to BSNL with the total outlay of around ₹ 89,000 Crores.  In 2025 an additional amount of ₹ 6,982 Crores has been approved as additional CAPEX support for rollout of 4G network by BSNL across the country. As a result of the revival packages given to BSNL, BSNL has started earning operating profits from F.Y. 2020-21. Further, number of subscribers of BSNL have also been increased. (c) & (d) In line with Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, BSNL is rolling out one lakh indigenously developed 4G sites for pan India deployment. As on 21.03.2026, total 97,993 4G sites have been installed and 96,295 4G sites are ON-Air. The equipment is 5G upgradable from technology perspective. (e) Review and monitoring of Revival packages is done at various level of Government of India. *** 1