Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is making a strong push to stay relevant in India’s fast-moving telecom industry. With new homegrown technology powering its 4G, 5G, and Bharat Fiber broadband services, the state-owned telecom provider is aiming to enhance its infrastructure and expand its network.
On paper, BSNL’s latest broadband plans, particularly its Fibre Ultra OTT New plan, seem like a solid deal. The Rs 1799 per month package offers 300 Mbps speeds, access to multiple OTT platforms, and even a free landline connection. But the real question is: Does BSNL have the reliability and speed to back up these offerings?
The reality is that BSNL’s internet service has consistently struggled to meet modern standards. Despite offering seemingly competitive plans, the network’s speed and stability remain major concerns. Users today are accustomed to the high-speed performance of Jio, Airtel, and Vi, making it difficult for BSNL to convince them to switch. The promise of OTT benefits might attract some, but no amount of streaming perks can compensate for sluggish internet and frequent network issues.
The problem isn’t just anecdotal—BSNL’s customer retention numbers paint a grim picture. According to TRAI’s December 2024 report, the company lost around 322,000 customers, marking a slight improvement from the 342,000 lost in November. The primary complaint? Poor network quality, including call drops and slow internet speeds. This persistent issue has been a major factor in the company’s struggle to retain subscribers, despite its aggressive push to expand 4G services to over 75,000 locations.
BSNL’s efforts to modernize are commendable, but its core issue remains unresolved. Simply introducing new plans isn’t enough; unless the company can improve its network reliability and match the speed expectations of today’s users, even the best broadband offers will fail to make a significant impact. The telecom market is ruthless, and in an era where speed is king, BSNL is still playing catch-up.