Modi blows trumpet on BSNL, MTNL despite market share loss

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Parliament on Wednesday, February 07, 2024, that Congress has devastated public telecoms like Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL.) He took pride that under BJP, BSNL has made progress in “Made In India 4G and 5G.”

So, let’s look at how much progress has BSNL and MTNL made in the last few years. According to latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), as of November 2023, BSNL’s market share in the telecom industry was mere 2.75 per cent. After BJP came into power in 2014, as per data accessible on Trai’s website, in November 2016, the market share of the operator was 9.34 per cent. Since 2016, BSNL’s market share has only shrinked in the industry.

BSNL has been continuosuly losing maret share.

Talking about MTNL, just like BSNL, the state-owned telecom too has been losing subscribers continuously.

In the wireless segment, as of November 2023, market share of all public telecoms in the industry was less than nine per cent. While, that of private telecoms it is close to 92 per cent.

While, in the wired segment, public telecoms’ market share is less than 29 per cent. While, that of private telecoms its few notches above 71 per cent.

If we take into consideration the period since 2016, private telecoms have gained market share. While, public telecoms have only lost subscribers due to poor service.

In November 2016, BSNL’s market share in the wireline segment was 56 per cent. It had more than half the pie of the entire wired telecom segment in the country. While its share in the wireless segment was 8.71 per cent.

The government has so far announced Rs 3.22 lakh crore worth of revival packages for BSNL. The GoI has also allotted 4G/5G spectrum to BSNL. Currently, BSNL subscribers are only able to use 4G. Later on, the telecom will also extend 5G services.