Not long ago, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was known for slow decision-making, old infrastructure, falling revenues, and resistance to change. Today, that image is changing rapidly. Under the reform vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BSNL has achieved one of the most notable turnarounds among India’s public sector companies. The company is now reporting revenue growth, deploying indigenous technology, and providing internet access to villages that were once considered difficult to connect.
Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, recently discussed this transformation in an interview with DD India. According to him, BSNL’s revival is the result of careful planning, clear targets, and efforts to solve long-standing problems within the organisation.
How BSNL Turned Around Its Finances in Just Two Years
The numbers show a great improvement. BSNL’s revenue has increased from ₹21,000 crore to ₹25,000 crore, representing growth of around 20–25% in just two years.
An even stronger sign of improvement is BSNL’s EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation). It has increased from only ₹50 crore to around ₹7,000 crore. This shows a major improvement in operational efficiency and indicates that the company is moving toward long-term profitability.
Dr Pemmasani said that this improvement came from a more disciplined and systematic approach similar to practices used in the private sector. The ministry identified key weaknesses and set clear targets. For example, in Andhra Pradesh, tower uptime was only 75%. A target of 95% was set. To achieve this, around 50,000 batteries were replaced, power systems were upgraded, and damaged cables were changed. Similar performance targets were introduced across the country for enterprise business growth and new mobile subscriber additions.
India’s Indigenous 4G Milestone
One of the most important achievements in BSNL’s revival is its progress in technology. BSNL has deployed indigenous 4G technology on 100,000 towers within a single year. This achievement places India among only a few countries that have developed advanced home-grown 4G technology.
Dr Pemmasani said that the technology has now reached a level close to global standards. This is an important step in India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in critical technology infrastructure. The rollout reduces dependence on foreign telecom equipment suppliers and creates opportunities to export Indian telecom technology in the future.
Winning Back Customers Through Better Service and Affordable Plans
Improving technology and infrastructure is easier than rebuilding customer trust. Dr Pemmasani acknowledged that public confidence cannot be restored overnight.
To attract users, BSNL is offering services at prices lower than those of private telecom operators. The government is also distributing One Rupee SIM cards through India Post offices. This allows people to try BSNL services at almost no cost.
In addition, India Post’s extensive rural network is being used to spread awareness about BSNL’s improved services. Postal workers are informing rural communities about the company’s better network and service quality, especially in areas where other connectivity options may not be available.
Also Read: India Post Revenue Reaches ₹15,373 Crore in FY 2025-26 Amid Major Modernisation Push
Connecting Remote Villages and Strengthening National Security
BSNL’s revival is also important from a national security perspective. Around 35,000 villages previously lacked proper connectivity because of difficult terrain, commercial challenges, and the presence of left-wing extremism in some regions.
BSNL has already installed about 25,000 towers in these villages, while work on another 10,000 towers is ongoing. Progress is monitored every week at the ministerial level.
The benefits are already visible. In areas such as Narayanpur district in Chhattisgarh, improved connectivity enables residents to contact police and government authorities promptly when needed. According to Dr Pemmasani, improved communication helps reduce the influence of extremist groups. He stated that when connectivity reaches remote regions, development follows, and extremism gradually declines.
BharatNet Expansion Aims to Bring High-Speed Internet to Rural India
Alongside BSNL’s wireless expansion, the BharatNet programme aims to provide high-speed fibre-optic connectivity to every Gram Panchayat in India. The programme involves an investment of nearly ₹1,40,000 crore and has been redesigned to overcome the implementation challenges faced in earlier phases.
At present, around 15 lakh rural households are connected. The first phase aims to increase this number to 1.5 crore households, representing a tenfold expansion. Strong accountability measures have been introduced to ensure effective implementation.
The programme is also encouraging village-level entrepreneurs to provide last-mile connectivity services. This can help create a stronger rural digital economy and support socio-economic development across rural India.
BSNL’s Vision for the Future: Trust, Growth, and Profitability
When asked about his vision for BSNL over the next five years, Dr Pemmasani described it using three words: “trustworthy, proud, and profitable.”
These words reflect BSNL’s efforts to regain relevance, not only as a telecom company but also as an organisation that provides digital access to some of India’s most underserved communities.
This transformation is closely linked to Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat, which aims to make India a developed nation by 2047. Dr Pemmasani emphasized that communication infrastructure is essential for achieving this goal.
He said that the transformation is not only about building towers and laying cables. It is also about changing the culture, mindset, and working style of public institutions. If BSNL’s progress over the last two years continues, this transformation may already be well underway.
