BSNL gives Rs 30000000000 contract to 61-year-old company named…, it will work for BharatNet on project of…

The BharatNet Project is a critical step toward enhancing rural connectivity in India, with Polycab’s involvement it can achieve significant milestones.

Written by: Anirudha Yerunkar Edited by: Anirudha Yerunkar

Published: March 18, 2025, 5:48 PM IST

Share

Share Article

• Facebook
• WhatsApp
• X
• Email
• Telegram
• Linkedin

https://www.india.com/business/bsnl-gives-rs-30000000000-contract-to-61-year-old-company-named-polycab-it-will-work-for-bharatnet-on-project-of-broadband-connectivity-7691404/ Copy

State-owned telecom company BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) is working on the ambitious BharatNet Project, aimed at providing high-speed broadband connectivity across India. To achieve this, BSNL has awarded a Rs 3,000 crore contract to Indian company Polycab. The company will focus on designing, building, installing, upgrading, and maintaining the middle-mile network for BharatNet in Bihar.

BharatNet Project

The BharatNet Project is a flagship initiative by the Government of India to connect all gram panchayats (village councils) with broadband connectivity. With this, internet access will be extended to rural areas, enabling services like e-education, e-governance, and e-health.

So far, BharatNet has reached over 2 lakh gram panchayats, but the project aims to extend its network to many more. BSNL, along with Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), is executing the project in phases. Companies like HFCL have also been involved in the initiative, with Polycab now tasked with executing BharatNet’s operations in Bihar.

Polycab’s Role and Responsibilities

Polycab, established in 1964, is a well-known Indian company specializing in wires and cables. Under the BharatNet contract, Polycab will:

Design and build the middle-mile network for Bihar. Also handle the installation and upgradation of infrastructure and maintain the network for a period of 10 years. The construction phase of the project is expected to last three years.

BSNL’s Focus On 4G Expansion

BSNL is also making rapid plans for its 4G network rollout. The company has set an ambitious target of installing 1 lakh 4G mobile towers, aiming to complete this in the first half of the financial year. Recently, BSNL announced on social media that its 4G services are now operational in over 75,000 locations.

BSNL Challenges With Subscriber Base

Despite its efforts to strengthen the network, BSNL faces challenges in retaining subscribers. According to TRAI’s latest data, BSNL lost over 3 lakh prepaid mobile customers in December. Vodafone-Idea is also experiencing similar challenges, while competitors Jio and Airtel continue to gain new wireless subscribers. BSNL currently has approximately 9 crore wireless subscribers in total.