Lok Sabha Question No. 3403 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Profit/Loss of BSNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Bhartruhari Mahtab

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3403 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH  AUGUST, 2023

## PROFIT/LOSS OF BSNL

## 3403. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  revenue,  expenditure  and  profit/loss  figures  of  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam Limited (BSNL), Year-wise since 2017;
- (b) the details of the subscriber base of BSNL, year-wise, since 2017;
- (c) whether the net profit margin of BSNL has shown any significant improvement after the approval of the revival package of Rs. 1.64 Lakh Cr. by the Cabinet on 27 July 2022, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to turn BSNL profitable by Financial Year 2026-27?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The details of profit/(loss) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) since Financial Year 2017-18 are given below:

(Amount in ₹ Crore)

| Financial Year (FY)   | Total Revenue   | Total Expenditure   | Operating Profit   |
|-----------------------|-----------------|---------------------|--------------------|
| 2017-18               | 25,071          | 33,064              | -2,858             |
| 2018-19               | 19,321          | 34,225              | -8,341             |
| 2019-20               | 18,907          | 34,406              | -6,879             |
| 2020-21               | 18,595          | 26,036              | 1,177              |
| 2021-22               | 19,052          | 26,034              | 944                |
| 2022-23               | 20,699          | 27,361              | 1,559              |

- (b) The subscriber base of BSNL as per Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) reports, year-wise, since 2017:

|            | BSNL         | BSNL        |
|------------|--------------|-------------|
| As on      | Wireless     | Wireline    |
| 31.03.2017 | 10,09,89,553 | 1,36,88,964 |

| 31.03.2018   | 11,16,79,483   | 1,22,67,391   |
|--------------|----------------|---------------|
| 31.03.2019   | 11,56,64,576   | 1,11,67,679   |
| 31.03.2020   | 11,97,80,108   | 87,27,103     |
| 31.03.2021   | 11,85,29,647   | 66,49,439     |
| 31.03.2022   | 11,36,88,415   | 75,09,030     |
| 31.03.2023   | 10,35,80,534   | 71,05,823     |

(c) to (e) The loss of BSNL  (before exceptional items of Rs.1499 Crores) for the Financial Year 2022-23 stands at Rs 6,662 crores, which is 4.5% improvement over FY 2021-22. Further, BSNL has been EBITDA positive since Financial Year 2020-21.

Further, in line with Atmanirbhar initiative of the Government, BSNL has issued Purchase orders for one-lakh sites to rollout services using 4G/5G technology developed indigenously.

Further,  the  Union  Cabinet  on  07.06.2023  approved  the  allotment  of  4G/5G  spectrum  to BSNL with the total outlay of Rs 89,047 Cr through equity infusion.

With the implementation of above measures, BSNL is expected to turn-around with net profit in Financial Year 2026-27.

*****