JAMMU, Aug 15: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has announced a range of customer-focused digital initiatives and special offers to mark the 80th Independence Day, including the expansion of its indigenous 4G network, new broadband services and additional validity for prepaid subscribers.
Addressing a press conference here, Chief General Manager Telecom, J&K Circle, Kush Kumar said BSNL remained committed to providing reliable, secure and affordable telecom services, particularly in geographically challenging areas, while advancing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India.
Kumar said BSNL had ordered more than 602 additional 4G Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, in addition to 2,247 sites planned earlier. Of the planned sites, 1,757 4G BTS in J&K and 343 in Ladakh have already been commissioned, further strengthening connectivity across urban, rural and remote areas.
The network has also been optimised to improve coverage, data speeds, call quality and overall customer experience. The indigenous technology platform powering the network is also capable of being upgraded to 5G.
As part of its Independence Day offerings, BSNL has introduced the Re 1 Freedom 2.0 offer for new customers. The plan provides 1 GB of data per day, 100 SMS per day and unlimited voice calls for a validity of 24 days.
BSNL has also launched its Fibre Freedom plan at a special introductory price of Rs 1,111 per month. The plan offers speeds of up to 200 Mbps, 5,000 GB of monthly data and access to more than 25 premium OTT platforms.
The telecom company has simultaneously unveiled a revamped BSNL Selfcare mobile application for Android and iOS users. The application allows customers to recharge prepaid connections, pay bills, register and track complaints, manage Do Not Disturb (DND) services, view payment history, book fibre connections and access AI chatbot and voice-search features.
The app also supports multiple-account management and provides access to entertainment services. Mobile subscribers will additionally get free access to around 500 live TV channels through BSNL Free Entertainment TV, powered by Tango TV.
Kumar said BSNL's Global Satellite Phone Service would provide voice connectivity in locations where conventional terrestrial mobile networks are unavailable, particularly in remote and difficult geographical areas.
Under another Independence Day offer, subscribers opting for the Rs 2,399 annual prepaid plan will receive an additional 47 days of validity, taking the total validity to 412 days.
BSNL also highlighted its partnership with Polycab aimed at promoting indigenous telecom manufacturing under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
Through Polycab's Electronic Manufacturing Services facility, telecom and networking equipment, including cameras, Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) and routers, will be manufactured domestically. The partnership will also adopt a Hardware-as-a-Service model to enable scalable and cost-effective deployment of telecom infrastructure while strengthening India's domestic manufacturing ecosystem.
Kumar said the initiatives reflected BSNL's continued focus on affordability, innovation and inclusive digital connectivity.
“BSNL remains dedicated to connecting people, empowering communities and contributing to India's digital future,” he said, while extending Independence Day greetings to the people.
