BSNL might surrender BWA spectrum as they make huge losses from existing businesses

BSNL offers to surrender broadband spectrum

Loss making state-owned telecoms major BSNL has offered to surrender its broadband wireless airwaves to the government after it its plans to rollout WiMAX-based using these airwaves through a franchisee model flopped, an official with direct knowledge of the development told ET.

ET has learnt that another reason for the telco offering to return the airwaves was that that it cannot see a business case. It is the only company in India that had committed to the WiMax technology standard for its wireless broadband services even as all other winners of these airwaves had decided to opt for upcoming long-term evolution (LTE) technology platform for their fourth generation offerings. With just a single company adopting the WiMAX platform, BSNL is confronted with the possibility of isolation from an interoperability and roaming perspective. Besides, if BSNL were to offer 4G services on the LTE platform in the future as a natural evolution for its existing customers, the telco will be confronted with a redundant WiMAX network.

Well this had to happen, i hope BSNL wakes up soon & starts investing/deploying in the right path else this shall be yet another loss making public company, a burden to society which will eventually shutdown

In a development that will give some relief to BSNL, the government has in principle agreed to the loss-making PSU's proposal to surrender broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum in 13-14 circles.