Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the state-owned telecommunications company, has officially rebranded its 5G services as Quantum 5G (Q-5G). Although the company has made notable progress in trials and pilot deployments, a nationwide commercial rollout remains pending.
The name Quantum 5G was selected through a crowdsourcing initiative, as confirmed by BSNL on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). In a post, the company stated, “Because of you, we now have a name that reflects the power, speed, and future of BSNL’s 5G network. Together, we’ve not just launched a service – we’ve made history.” The rebranding marks a significant milestone, although it has not yet translated into a full-fledged consumer launch.
BSNL’s Quantum 5G is positioned as a 100% indigenous telecommunications solution, developed under the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The technology stack is being built in collaboration with a consortium led by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), with contributions from Tejas Networks, Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), and Indian Telephone Industries (ITI). Notably, no foreign vendors are involved in the project.
The telecom operator has been allotted spectrum in the 700 MHz and 3.3 GHz bands, enabling robust 5G performance. The company plans to leverage its existing and upcoming 4G infrastructure, which is already equipped for 5G deployment. With over 50,000 of the proposed 100,000 towers already in place, BSNL is poised for a rapid scale-up once the service is fully operational.
In a significant step forward, BSNL has soft-launched its Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services under the Quantum 5G branding. This SIM-less, high-speed internet service is currently being piloted for enterprise users in select cities, including Hyderabad. Speaking at the launch event at Ameerpet Exchange in Hyderabad, BSNL Chairman and Managing Director A. Robert J. Ravi said, “Hyderabad’s tech-savvy ecosystem makes it the perfect launchpad for our next-generation access portfolio.”
The FWA solution offers gigabit-class speeds and is suited for ultra-high-definition streaming, cloud-based gaming, and remote work environments. It is designed for quick and easy self-installation without the need for trenching or fibre-optic infrastructure, reaching 85% of households in Hyderabad through BSNL’s existing tower grid.
Pilot deployments of the Quantum 5G FWA service are expected to expand to Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam, Pondicherry, Pune, Chandigarh, and Gwalior by September 2025. Initial tariff plans are priced at ₹999 and ₹1,499 per month for 100 Mbps and 300 Mbps speeds, respectively.
Alongside the FWA rollout, BSNL also unveiled its Micro Data Centre solution and an International Gateway in Hyderabad. These developments aim to strengthen BSNL’s enterprise offerings and international connectivity. Mr. Ravi further noted that BSNL is engaged in exploratory work on 6G technologies, where mobile phones could function as active antennas.
While the full consumer rollout of BSNL’s Quantum 5G remains awaited, these initiatives signal a strong push toward indigenous, next-generation telecom solutions.
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