Digital empowerment is not just a buzz word but a mission that is being keenly driven by the nation’s handful of telecom companies along with active participation from states too.

The Andhra Pradesh government has a keen focus on digital connectivity and aims to get all its villages digitally enabled.

Central public sector undertaking BSNL has always been a trusted service provider in the state and has been at the forefront in providing coverage in the remotest of locations. 

One cannot forget the dreaded Hud-Hud cyclone when the state and city of Vizag suffered wide spread outage, BSNL was the first to rise to the occasion and restore its network and get people back to being connected.

The government enterprise is now playing a significant part in rolling out 4G services in the state.

‘The national telecom policy has made it mandatory for coverage and connecting the unconnected with data. We at BSNL are marching ahead with this objective.

There is a clear emphasis on digital connectivity’ said BSNL, Andhra Pradesh’s CGM, Mr M Seshachalam speaking exclusively to Vizag Industrial Scan.

4G Saturation Project

Elaborating on BSNL’s operations in Andhra Pradesh the CGM spoke on the 4G saturation project which it states will elevate digital connectivity especially in the rural areas. 

The public sector company has been assigned with a mammoth task of spreading 4G coverage to 3859 villages which shall encompass construction of over 1600 new towers. This will involve laying an enormous amount of cables too.

‘These new towers are being constructed in rural areas where there is no connection whatsoever. This will therefore drastically enhance digital connectivity in those remote areas’ cited the chief general manager.

To accomplish this BSNL’s team has been working closely with the state government of Andhra Pradesh. 

‘We have been receiving excellent support both from the state government and forest department in Andhra Pradesh. By December end 100% of the villages in AP will be connected with 4G’ informed the CGM.

Driving Atmanirbharta

Moreover what is encouraging is that all the equipment that is being used in getting this task accomplished is all indigenous.

‘We are one of the coveted organisations which is executing Atmanirbharta/self-reliance in its true sense. 100% of the infrastructure is indigenous’ noted Mr Seshachalam.

However one of the impediments is the installation of new equipment. For the towers to become 4G enabled there is certain type of equipment which is yet to come.

‘We are working on this and are confident that in this month itself we shall start rolling out the equipment’ informed Mr Seshachalam.

BSNL all in all has about 4300 towers in AP which radiate 2G and 3G waves. The telco is now deploying new band in AP i.e. 700 mhz for 4G. ‘Lower the frequency longer/wider the connectivity is’ explained Mr Seshachalam.

Market Share

Talking on BSNL’s market share he informed that BSNL has about 50 lakh wireless customers in the state commanding a 10% market share. Similarly it has a 10% market share in landline connections with about 1.3 lakh copper connections and about 2 lakh Bharat net connections.

‘We offer the lowest prices to customers and have the widest coverage’ asserted the CGM.

BSNL for Corporates

In addition the BSNL AP head informed that it is also adding OTT for its customers and has a slew of products for corporate/enterprise customers.

‘With internet lease lines and customised solutions for corporates we offer many services which can help organisations enhance their digital experience. 

We encourage corporates to come and engage with us and learn about our various services’ said the CGM.