BSNL announces Re 1 mobile offer, 4G expansion and new digital services

NEW DELHI: BSNL is dialing up its Independence Day celebrations with a raft of customer offers and digital services, including a Re 1 mobile plan, free live television and extended validity on its annual prepaid offering.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited announced the initiatives on August 14 as India prepares to mark its 80th Independence Day. The state-owned telecom operator said the measures are aimed at improving customer experience, expanding digital services and making connectivity and entertainment more accessible.

The announcements come alongside a major network expansion. BSNL said it has ordered more than 26,300 additional 4G base transceiver station sites for deployment across the country, with the aim of extending its network to more towns, villages and remote areas.

The company said its existing 4G network has also undergone comprehensive optimisation, including improvements in coverage, data speeds, call performance and overall network quality. The network is based on an indigenous technology stack that is upgradable to 5G.

Under its new Re 1 Freedom 2.0 Offer, new customers can experience BSNL’s mobile network for Re 1.

The offer includes 1GB of data a day, 100 SMS messages a day and unlimited voice calls, with a validity of 24 days.

BSNL said the initiative is designed to lower the barrier for customers looking to try its mobile services, while reinforcing its positioning around affordable connectivity.

The company has also introduced a new Fibre Freedom Plan at a launch price of Rs 1,111 per month. The broadband package offers speeds of up to 200 Mbps, 5,000GB of monthly data and access to more than 25 premium OTT platforms.

The plan combines broadband and entertainment services under a single connection, adding another string to BSNL’s consumer offering.

BSNL has also revamped its customer-facing digital platform with the launch of BSNL Selfcare New on Android and iOS.

The app brings together prepaid recharges, postpaid and landline bill payments, complaint registration and tracking, do-not-disturb management, payment history and fibre booking requests.

It also includes AI chatbot support, voice search and multiple-account management. Customers can access BSNL’s entertainment offering through the same application.

One of the more eye-catching additions is BSNL Free Entertainment TV, powered by Tango TV. BSNL mobile subscribers will get free access to around 500 live television channels through the Selfcare app, along with on-demand entertainment content.

That gives BSNL’s telecom pitch a little more screen time, moving beyond connectivity into bundled digital entertainment.

BSNL also highlighted its Global Satellite Phone Service, which uses satellite connectivity to provide voice communication in areas where conventional terrestrial mobile networks may not be available.

The service is aimed particularly at remote and geographically challenging locations, where maintaining communications can be difficult.

For existing prepaid customers, BSNL is adding 47 days of validity to its Rs 2,399 annual plan for a limited period. The plan’s validity will rise from 365 days to 412 days, while existing benefits remain in place.

BSNL is also strengthening its manufacturing ambitions through a partnership with Polycab India.

The companies will work on indigenous telecom and networking equipment manufacturing through Polycab’s Electronic Manufacturing Services facility. The facility will produce equipment such as cameras, optical network terminals and routers.

The partnership will use a Hardware-as-a-Service model, which BSNL said can support scalable infrastructure deployment without requiring heavy upfront investment. The initiative is positioned as part of the government’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat push for greater domestic manufacturing and self-reliance in telecom.

Taken together, the announcements show BSNL trying to make its Independence Day message more than ceremonial. From cheaper entry-level connectivity and longer validity to 4G expansion, satellite services, entertainment and locally manufactured equipment, the operator is seeking to strengthen both its network and its consumer proposition.

For BSNL, the independence message is clear: more connectivity, more services and, this time, a little more value for the customer.