BSNL to install WiMax BTS in 1,000 blocks

The state-run telecom company BSNL today announced plans to install WiMax base stations in 1,000 blocks across India by the end of this financial year to provide high-speed internet access to 25,000 villages.

“We will be installing WiMax BTS in 1000 blocks out of country’s 6000 blocks by the end of the current financial year,” said BSNL CMD Kuldeep Goyal. Rural India has been divided into 6000 blocks.

BSNL has rights to 1000 blocks and has invited tenders for installing a WiMAX base station in each of those blocks to provide rural connectivity.

The company expects to provide high-speed internet access to 25,000 villages by the end of this year through common service centres (CSCs). BSNL is actively holding discussions with some vendors for the BTS (base transceiver station) equipment and the pilot project is in progress.

“The proof-of-concept is being installed and will be completed in a few months,” added Goyal. The CSCs are telecom kiosks that will be set up in the villages and equipped with infrastructure such as PCs, printers, software and staff for delivery of e-governance services pertaining to health, education and agricultural information.

As a government-run company, BSNL has two distinct programmes for rolling out WiMAX, one for providing commercial broadband services and another to connect rural India to government services online.