BSNL to launch 4G by March 2016

Indian state-owned operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is set to launch 4G services by March 2016 as it looks to go toe-to-toe with newcomer Reliance Jio Infocomm (RJIL) when it launches later this year. The operator is also set to trim its pricing to compete more effectively with its rivals, the Economic Times quotes BSNL’s managing director, Anupam Shrivastava, as saying: ‘We will launch competitive tariff plans to match Reliance Jio and other private telecom service providers’ pricing, be it in 3G or 4G, by the end of this year.’ For the new service, BSNL will use frequencies in the 2500MHz band, licences for which it holds in 15 operating areas, although it is also in talks with other providers regarding possible spectrum sharing deals. BSNL is also looking into bundling devices with 4G offerings and has begun discussing options with various manufacturers, the official added.