Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a government-owned Indian telecommunications operator, is partnering with Tejas Networks, a Tata Group-owned company, to source telecom equipment for its indigenous 4G rollout. Tejas Networks is providing Radio Access Network (RAN) products to BSNL as part of this collaboration. However, Tejas Networks has broader aspirations beyond this partnership with BSNL and aims to expand its customer base.
Arnob Roy, Chief Operating Officer and Whole Time Director of Tejas Networks, mentioned that the company is currently involved in multiple Proof of Concepts (PoCs) with potential customers, indicating ongoing efforts to explore opportunities beyond BSNL. Roy shared these insights during the Q4 FY24 post-earnings call.
Currently, Tejas Networks is primarily focusing on opportunities within India, where its radios are deployed as part of critical infrastructure and are undergoing testing by telecom operators. The company also aims to pursue international opportunities in the future, contingent upon successful trials with Indian companies, which could potentially open doors for global expansion.
In the fourth quarter, Tejas Networks shipped a significant amount of equipment for 4G/5G RAN deployment in the BSNL network. Equipment has been dispatched for over 10,000 sites, with plans for deployment at the remaining 90,000 sites over the next three to four quarters, as outlined by Roy.
Additionally, Tejas Networks has been involved in the largest deployment of indigenous IP/MPLS routers in the country, utilized in BSNL’s MAAN network, which serves as the backhaul network for the 4G/5G mobile network.
Roy noted that while their RAN equipment is being deployed in various zones for BSNL, C-DoT core infrastructure is not yet present in some sites. In such cases, the RAN equipment is integrated into the existing core infrastructure. Once the C-DoT core is established, the equipment will be connected to the new core infrastructure.
