BSNL fast-tracks 4G site installation, targets April launch

The development comes after communications minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said last week that BSNL has deployed the first indigenous ‘eNodeB’ hardware to launch 4G. eNodeB is a wireless base station used to carry communication between mobile and cellular networks with LTE or 4G technology.

State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) is targeting to commercially launch 4G services in April, and has started getting supply of indigenous equipment from the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)-led consortium, people aware of the matter said. The supply of equipment is part of the pre-order for 200 sites to initially launch 4G in parts of three districts of Punjab – Ferozepur, Pathankot and Amritsar.

“While the government is expected to approve the complete tender to TCS for equipment for 100,000 4G sites by March end, this installation is part of the pilot project to launch 4G starting from Punjab,” a government official said, adding that TCS, through Tejas Networks, has supplied equipment for about 50 sites for which the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) is soon expected to do a software patch upgrade.