BSNL Reports ₹262 Crore Profit in Q3 FY 24-25, First Since 2007

BSNL records profit of ₹262 crores after 17 years.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, a public sector telecom operator with a mobile network on the cheaper side, earned a profit for the first time since 2007.On Friday, the government informed that the profit for BSNL was ₹262 crore during the last quarter of the year 2024, which comprises the months of October to December. This is the first profit making quarter for BSNL since 2007. The profits are a result of long drawn efforts to turn around the company from its persistent losses owing to financial distress and government bail out support

Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia remarked in X “Marching towards a connected India under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.

Marching towards a connected India!

Delighted to share that @BSNLCorporate has reported a net profit of Rs. 262 crore for the Oct-Dec quarter, marking the first time in 17 years.

Under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, BSNL is moving towards sustainable recovery and…
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) February 14, 2025

Key Reasons behind BSNL profits

Support from the Government and packages for revival.

The government of India played a significant role in BSNL’s bout of profits. There have been several packages aimed at reviving the telco like the 1.64 lakh crores of 2022. While these packages pay off BSNL’s debts, they also allow for investment into new technology and improving operational efficiency.

To meet the capital expenditure fund deficit, the Union Cabinet has provided BSNL an additional ₹6,000 crore during February 2025 for the company’s 4G rollout. After taking over control of MTNL’s operations in Delhi and Mumbai, BSNL plans to rapidly increase the number of subscribers by rolling out 4G services across the country followed by 5G in the near future. So far, the Modi government has spent around ₹3.22 lakh crore in these companies.

Expansion of 4G and Upcoming 5G Services

BSNL worked on expanding its 4G network coverage by installing new towers. As of December 14, Union Telecom Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia remarked, “BSNL had installed over 62,000 4G towers across the country.”

BSNL plans to expand the 4G cover to 100,000 sites across the country in a bid to keep up the competition with Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vi.

New Subscribers and Competitive Pricing

BSNL has acquired a sizeable portion of new subscribers, especially in rural regions where private telcos have little penetration. BSNL has come out with more competitive mobile and internet plans than the private telecom operators, which can help lower the burden on the consumers.

Expansion in Business Enterprise Services

Besides the mobile services, BSNL experienced robust growth in the enterprise solutions segment which includes fiber broadband (BSNL Bharat Fiber) and leased lines as well as other government contracts. The revenue from these high value added services brought about the increased sales of the company.

BSNL’s Entry into Internet TV Services

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on January 30, 2025 launched a new internet TV service whereby its mobile subscribers throughout India can access over 450 live TV channels without paying any subscription fee.

BiTV Intertainment (BiTV) is the name of this service, which comes after a successful pilot in Pondicherry. In collaboration with streaming aggregator OTT play, BSNL extends beyond telecommunications by providing subscribers multiple streaming services and a content library.

What’s Next for BSNL?

BSNL intends to reposition itself with:

The nationwide 5G network access by 2025
The escalation of fiber broadband service provision
More attractive prepaid and post-paid options
Focusing on government contracts and enterprise business solutions

Conclusion

After almost two decades of incurring losses, BSNL making profit marks a major achievement. With proactive government support, proper control, and modernization of technology, the company is headed for growth in the coming years.