BSNL to invest Rs 4,000 cr for expansion

We will be installing 8,700 mobile towers of which 50% are 3G, says BSNL Chairman, MD R K Upadhyay

State-run telecom operator BSNL is investing Rs 4,000 crore this financial year to expand its mobile network. The plan includes  installing 8,700 towers.

“As part of our phase-7 expansion plans, we are planning to invest Rs 4,000 crore in mobile network. We will be installing 8,700 mobile towers, of which 50 per cent will be for  3G,” Chairman and  Managing Director R K Upadhyay said.

He added the network expansion, currently under way, was likely to be completed by March next year.     

The company has already placed orders for procuring equipment for the north and south zones and would place a contract for the east zone soon.

The fifth largest by mobile phone subscribers, it had 14.56 per cent market share, with around 97.1 million mobile subscribers at the end of May, according to the  Cellular Operators Association of India.