Government-run BSNL is currently in advanced talks with Reliance Jio and Vodafone over a 2G spectrum sharing agreement. The telecom operator’s Chairman and Managing Director Anupam Shrivastava thinks the deal will get signed sometime in May.
The 2G intra-circle contract will impact scores of customers across BSNL, Reliance Jio and Vodafone. Subscribers to the latter two are set to get connected to the first’s network in places where there is a coverage gap. The state-owned entity notably has a wide presence in underdeveloped rural areas.
These regions offer a very low return on investment to private companies which is why they don’t invest too much into them. BSNL also benefits from the deal since their patrons will get to access Vodafone and Reliance Jio’s networks. Moving forward, BSNL plans to sign 3G intra-circle roaming agreements with other firms in the future.
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Shrivastava asserts that BSNL is currently working on the rates for the 3G roaming arrangement and plans to implement uniform rates for all partners given its status as state-run entity. Interestingly, the telecom company had previously held discussions with Bharti Airtel to bring about a spectrum sharing agreement in the Maharashtra and Rajasthan circles for the 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz band.
If everything goes as planned, BSNL will liberalize the airwaves in the two circles. However, an Airtel spokesperson told PTI that the company has held only preliminary discussions with BSNL with nothing set in stone yet.