Lok Sabha Question No. 6017 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Revival of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri Rajkumar Roat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6017 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 ST  APRIL, 2026

## REVIVAL OF BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED

## †6017. SHRI RAJKUMAR ROAT:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  total  financial  assistance  approved  by  the  Government  for  the  revival  of  the  Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and the expansion of its 4G/5G network since 2014;
- (b) the details of the funds utilised, item and work-wise;
- (c) the name of the cities/districts of the country where BSNL's 4G/5G services are currently operational;
- (d) whether it is a fact that BSNL's network remains weak in many rural and remote areas and that 4G/5G services have not yet been launched in many districts despite significant financial support from the Government and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to formulate a time-bound plan to expeditiously launch Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited's 4G/5G services in the remaining districts and rural areas; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

- (a) & (b) Government has approved revival packages to BSNL as mentioned below:
-  In 2019, first revival package amounting to around ₹ 69,000 Crores was given that brought down the operating costs of BSNL .
-  In 2022, revival package amounting to around ₹ 1,64,000 Crores was given .It focused on infusing fresh capital, restructuring debt, viability gap funding for rural telephony etc .
-  In  2023,  Government approved the allotment of 4G/5G spectrum to BSNL with the total outlay of around ₹ 89,000 Crores.
-  In 2025 an additional amount of ₹ 6,982 Crores has been approved as additional CAPEX support for rollout of 4G network by BSNL across the country.

The total amount of ₹ 2,60,213.40  Crores has been spent from these revival packages, so far. Detailed breakup of item-wise fund utilization is at Annexure-I.

(c) to (f) In line with Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, BSNL is rolling out one lakh indigenously developed 4G sites for pan India deployment. As on 21.03.2026, total 97,993 4G sites have been installed  and  96,295  4G  sites  are  ON-Air.  The  equipment  is  5G  upgradable  from  technology perspective.

## Annexure-I of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 6017 for 01.04.2026 Item-wise fund utilization

| S No   | Item                                                                                                 | Released funds ₹   |
|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|
| 1      | Implementation of VRS in BSNL/MTNL                                                                   | 29,894.55          |
| 2      | Debt restructuring of BSNL and MTNL through Sovereign Guarantee Bonds (SGB) support                  | 38,814.69          |
| 3      | Administrative allotment of spectrum to BSNL/MTNL for providing 2G and 4G/5G through equity infusion | 1,09,787           |
| 4      | Support for settlement of AGR dues to BSNL                                                           | 31,957.16          |
| 5      | CAPEX requirement support through equity infusion                                                    | 22,471             |
| 6      | Viability Gap Funding (VGF) in form of grant-in-aid to BSNL.                                         | 19,789             |
| 7      | Re-issue 9% non-cumulative preference shares of Rs. 7,500 Cr to Govt. of India(GoI).                 | 7,500              |
| 8      | Operational merger of MTNL with BSNL                                                                 | Nil                |
|        | Total                                                                                                | 2,60,213.40        |

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