Lok Sabha Question No. 2591 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: 4G Spectrum of BSNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2591 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  AUGUST, 2021

## 4G SPECTRUM OF BSNL

## 2591. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS  be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the amount of spectrum provided to BSNL across the country, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether  BSNL  is  lagging  behind  other  telecom  service  providers  in  terms  of  4G  technology services and if so, the reasons therefor and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the Government is aware of the fact that due to delayed allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL, its 4G services could not be launched on time and led to huge revenue loss and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (d) whether the Government is also aware that BSNL is unable to come out of its loss as it could not compete with other operators who are providing 4G technology to their consumers and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (e) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure the expeditious launching of 4G services by BSNL within the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

- (a) State/UT-wise detail of spectrum provided to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) across the country is at Annexure.

(b) to (e) BSNL is providing 4G services on limited scale through 8,637 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS)  using  its  existing  spectrum.  Despite  intense  competition  in  mobile  segment  and  data  centric telecom market, BSNL continue to maintain its mobile subscriber base.  The mobile subscriber market share of BSNL for the last five years is as under:

| Subscribers market share (in %age) of BSNL as on   | Subscribers market share (in %age) of BSNL as on   | Subscribers market share (in %age) of BSNL as on   | Subscribers market share (in %age) of BSNL as on   | Subscribers market share (in %age) of BSNL as on   |
|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| 31.03.2017                                         | 31.03.2018                                         | 31.03.2019                                         | 31.03.2020                                         | 31.03.2021                                         |
| 8.66                                               | 9.44                                               | 9.96                                               | 10.35                                              | 10.03                                              |

The competition in the telecom sector has led to reduction in tariffs. Further, for BSNL, in the data  centric  telecom  market,  the  absence  of  4G  services  (except  in  few  places)  has  also  impacted  the Average Revenue per User (ARPU). However, the Government has approved the revival plan for BSNL on 23.10.2019, which, inter-alia , includes administrative allotment of spectrum for providing 4G services with funding through budgetary allocation. The funds of Rs. 24,084 crores for the spectrum have been provided in the budget for the FY 2021-22.

BSNL invited the Expression of Interest (EoI) on 01.01.2021 for Proof of Concept (PoC) from Indian Companies interested in participating in BSNL's upcoming 4G tender. Letter of Intent (LoI) has been issued to 5 eligible bidders on 01.07.2021.

## Annexure to reply to part(a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2591 for answer on 04.08.2021

## Spectrum holding of BSNL across the country

| Sl.   | State/UT/            | Spectrum Holding (in MHz)   | Spectrum Holding (in MHz)           | Spectrum Holding (in MHz)   | Spectrum Holding (in MHz)           | Spectrum Holding (in MHz)   | Spectrum Holding (in MHz)   |
|-------|----------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| No.   | Circle               | 900 MHz band (paired)       | 900 MHz band (paired)               | 1800 MHz band (paired)      | 1800 MHz band (paired)              | 2100 MHz band               | 2500 MHz band (unpaired)    |
|       |                      | Quantum held                | Quantum requested for re-assignment | Quantum held                | Quantum requested for re-assignment | (paired)                    |                             |
| 1.    | Andhra Pradesh       | 6.2                         | 5.6                                 | 3.8                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | NIL                         |
| 2.    | Assam                | 6.2                         | 5                                   | 3.8                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | 20                          |
| 3.    | Bihar                | 6.2                         | 5                                   | NIL                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | 20                          |
| 4.    | Gujarat              | 6.2                         | 5                                   | NIL                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | NIL                         |
| 5.    | Haryana              | 6.2                         | 5.6                                 | 3.8                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | 20                          |
| 6.    | Himachal Pradesh     | 6.2                         | 5.6                                 | 3.8                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | 20                          |
| 7.    | Jammu& Kashmir       | 8                           | 5                                   | NIL                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | 20                          |
| 8.    | Karnataka            | 6.2                         | 5.6                                 | 3.8                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | NIL                         |
| 9.    | Kerala               | 6.2                         | 6.2                                 | 3.8                         | 2                                   | 5                           | 20                          |
| 10.   | Kolkata              | 6.2                         | 5                                   | NIL                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | NIL                         |
| 11.   | Madhya Pradesh       | 6.2                         | 5                                   | 3.8                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | 20                          |
| 12.   | Maharashtra          | 6.2                         | 5                                   | NIL                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | NIL                         |
| 13.   | North East           | 6.2                         | 5                                   | 3.8                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | 20                          |
| 14.   | Odisha               | 6.2                         | 5.6                                 | 3.8                         | 2                                   | 5                           | 20                          |
| 15.   | Punjab               | 6.2                         | 5                                   | NIL                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | 20                          |
| 16.   | Rajasthan            | 6.2                         | 5.6                                 | NIL                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | 20                          |
| 17.   | Tamil Nadu           | 6.2                         | 5.6                                 | 3.8                         | 2                                   | 5                           | NIL                         |
| 18.   | Uttar Pradesh (East) | 6.2                         | 5                                   | 3.8                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | 20                          |
| 19.   | Uttar Pradesh (West) | 6.2                         | 5                                   | 3.8                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | 20                          |
| 20.   | West Bengal          | 6.2                         | 5.6                                 | 1.8                         | NIL                                 | 5                           | 20                          |

Note:  Spectrum holding of BSNL in 900MHz and 1800 MHz bands has expired in February 2020.The request of BSNL for re-assignment of spectrum in 900/1800 MHZ band on administrative allotment basis is under consideration in Government.

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