4G rollout, improvement in quality of services will make BSNL profitable: Jyotiraditya Scindia

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia

Union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said the state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) will become profitable after it rolls out 4G network and improves the quality of service.

He also said that the telecom operator is EBITDA positive.

“We would like to see the rollout of 4G, Scindia said during an exclusive interview. He added, however, to see profit rolling in, there should be, a) good execution and b) improved quality of service and better customer satisfaction ratings. "And if you're able to do both of those, profits will accrue from that time,” he added.

The minister also said that it is important for the country to build home-grown technologies to translate goals of Viksit Bharat into a reality. The country has developed its own 4G technology, becoming the third nation to have its own 4G stack.

“We are in the process of growing BSNL 4G stack. And it's’ been a Herculean effort. I must commend all the organizations that have worked together with one goal, one vision and one plan to make that happen. The technology is now proven. The POC has been proven. We are now in the process of moving ahead,” Scindia said.

Moreover, the minister said the country needs to achieve 4G saturation and for that 52,000 more towers will have to be installed in 10,000 villages across the nation.

“In our country, we need to ensure that the access to information goes down to the last village. This has also been the prime minister's vision... whatever we do, there must be complete saturation.”