BSNL turns worthwhile after 17 years, EBITDA doubles in 4 years; Telecom min Scindia calls it ‘turning level’

BSNL has posted a internet revenue of ₹262 crore for December quarter, marking its return to profitability after nearly 17 years, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated on Friday terming it a “vital turning level” for the state-owned telco that has been targeted on growth of service choices and subscriber base.

BSNL scripted an enchancment on a number of counts, clinching 14-18 per cent progress throughout mobility, FTTH and leased line service providing, Scindia, Minister for Communications stated including that the subscriber base too has risen to about 9 crore in December, from 8.4 crore in June.

“Immediately is a vital day for BSNL, and for the journey of the telecom sector in India…BSNL has, in third quarter of FY2024-25, for the primary time in 17 years, posted a revenue on a quarterly foundation. The final time that BSNL posted a quarterly revenue was within the yr 2007,” he stated on BSNL’s earnings.

The web revenue got here in at about ₹262 crore within the third quarter of the monetary yr. Mobility providers income grew by 15 per cent, Fiber-to-the-Residence (FTTH) income elevated by 18 per cent and leased line providers income rose by 14 per cent over Q3 of the earlier yr.

The Q3 scorecard underlined the telco’s give attention to innovation, community growth, price optimisation, and customer-centric service enhancements.

Moreover, BSNL has lower its finance price and general expenditure, resulting in a decline in losses by over ₹1,800 crore in comparison with final yr.

With a view to enhancing buyer expertise, BSNL has launched choices resembling Nationwide WiFi Roaming, BiTV – Free Leisure for All Cellular Clients, and IFTV for All FTTH Clients, and first non-public 5G connectivity for mining.

“We actually hope that this yr is not going to simply see a rise in revenues on the finish of fourth quarter for the complete monetary yr, however will even (see BSNL) hold expenditure and prices beneath management and considerably scale back losses from the figures of final yr,” the minister stated.

Within the final 4 years, BSNL’s EBITDA doubled from ₹1,100 crore to nearly ₹2,100 crore as of FY23-24.

“…And this quarter’s return to profitability is a major turning level for BSNL because it now embarks on offering 4G providers to all its subscribers throughout the size and breadth of the nation. Out of 100,000 towers, nearly 75,000 have been put in, near about 60,000 have been commissioned. And we hope that by June of this yr all 100,000 towers might be operational,” Scindia stated.