Parliament Question: Revival of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6017 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01ST APRIL, 2026 REVIVAL OF BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED †6017. SHRI RAJKUMAR ROAT: Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state: (a) the total financial assistance approved by the Government for the revival of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and the expansion of its 4G/5G network since 2014; (b) the details of the funds utilised, item and work-wise; (c) the name of the cities/districts of the country where BSNL's 4G/5G services are currently operational; (d) whether it is a fact that BSNL's network remains weak in many rural and remote areas and that 4G/5G services have not yet been launched in many districts despite significant financial support from the Government and if so, the reasons therefor; (e) whether the Government proposes to formulate a time-bound plan to expeditiously launch Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited's 4G/5G services in the remaining districts and rural areas; and (f) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be implemented? 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. The total amount of ₹ 2,60,213.40 Crores has been spent from these revival packages, so far. Detailed breakup of item-wise fund utilization is at Annexure-I. (c) to (f) 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. 1Annexure-I of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 6017 for 01.04.2026 Item-wise fund utilization S Item Released No funds ₹ 1 Implementation of VRS in BSNL/MTNL 29,894.55 2 Debt restructuring of BSNL and MTNL 38,814.69 through Sovereign Guarantee Bonds (SGB) support 3 Administrative allotment of spectrum to 1,09,787 BSNL/MTNL for providing 2G and 4G/5G through equity infusion 4 Support for settlement of AGR dues to 31,957.16 BSNL 5 CAPEX requirement support through equity 22,471 infusion 6 Viability Gap Funding (VGF) in form of 19,789 grant-in-aid to BSNL. 7 Re-issue 9% non-cumulative preference 7,500 shares of Rs. 7,500 Cr to Govt. of India(GoI). 8 Operational merger of MTNL with BSNL Nil Total 2,60,213.40 ***** 2