Summary:
According to the Telecommunications Department (DoT), BSNL is preparing to roll 5G services in Delhi and Mumbai by December 2025. With already ongoing tests, state-run operator is ready to compete with private telcos such as Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea, but with unique focus on the deployment of indigenous devices.
India’s state-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will launch 5G services in Delhi and Mumbai by the end of 2025, which will create its first major commercial markets. The company is testing both 5G standalone (SA) and Non-Standalone (NSA) network, and DoT officials confirm that their equipments are working without issue.
Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have already deployed 5G across the country and Vodafone Idea is gradually expanding the coverage, BSNL’s rollout is strategically significant. The government aims to place BSNL as a strong rival in the 5G race, ensuring that it uses indigenous telecom gear from end to end to increase India’s self-reliance in critical digital infrastructure.
The launch on December 2025 will not only bring high speed 5G connectivity to India’s two largest telecommunications markets but will also mark the re-entry of BSNL in a competitive place, which will strengthen the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in telecom.
