BSNL eyes 4G rollout in 18-24 months: Dhotre

State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) expects the roll-out of its 4G wireless service to be completed in 18-24 months, Sanjay Dhotre, minister of state for communications, said on Wednesday. The minister also clarified, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, that the government has no plan to privatize BSNL.

BSNL had invited expressions of interest on January 1 seeking prior registration or proof of concept from Indian telecom equipment manufacturers interested in participating in its upcoming 4G tender, Dhotre said.

“BSNL will follow the applicable rules, guidelines or public procurement orders of the government, including rule 144(xi) of the General Financial Rules, 2017, in this regard,” he said.