Chairman’s Statement

During the year, BSNL recorded growth in its FTTH (Fiber-to-the-Home), Mobile, and Enterprise segments. Revenue from operations rose from ₹19,331 crore in FY24 to ₹20,841 crore in FY25.

Other income increased from ₹1,972 crore to ₹2,587 crore. Key operating costs declined:

• Network operating expenses: ₹5,939 crore → ₹5,791 crore
• Access charges: ₹535 crore → ₹498 crore
• Administrative expenses: ₹2,428 crore → ₹2,422 crore

Sales and marketing expenses increased to ₹740 crore (from ₹500 crore), reflecting stepped-up customer acquisition and brand-building. Despite a challenging environment, we reduced net loss to ₹2,414 crore (from ₹5,371 crore in FY24). We remained EBITDA positive, with EBITDA of ₹5,396 crore (vs. ₹2,164 crore in FY24), driven by stronger operating discipline.

Total expenses reduced by ₹832 crore, aided by a ₹1,129 crore decline in employee benefit expenses. Depreciation and amortization increased by ₹528 crore, reflecting higher asset capitalization, notably under the 4G and IX.2 programs. Our current ratio of 4.14:1 indicates strong short-term liquidity. Expenditure controls yielded savings in power & fuel, repairs & maintenance, and procurement, supporting financial consolidation.

The Union Cabinet’s revival package for BSNL continued to guide our transformation. Key measures included:

• Equity infusion and spectrum allocation on a cash-neutral basis.
• Settlement of AGR dues and balance sheet restructuring.
• The merger of Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) with BSNL, which secured approvals from unsecured creditors and awaits final approval from MCA.
• A service agreement with MTNL, effective January 1, 2025, under which BSNL has assumed responsibility for operating and maintaining MTNL’s telecom services in Delhi and Mumbai.

In FY25, we also monetised assets of ₹1,112 crore (rentals and select land/building sales), contributing to financial strengthening.

Our mobile footprint grew to 2,29,278 BTS across 2G/3G/4G. As of March 31, 2025, total 87,363 4G sites had been installed, of which 78,708 were on-air. Projects under Digital Bharat Nirman extended 4G to border, remote, and LWE-affected areas, including Lakshadweep. The Kochi–Lakshadweep Islands (KLI) cable—completed in 2024—now underpins island connectivity, while CANI (Chennai–Andaman & Nicobar) continues to enhance bandwidth to the archipelago.

As the Project Management Agency for BharatNet, our expanded responsibilities enable rural broadband connectivity across over all Gram Panchayats, in line with the BBNL–BSNL integration envisaged by Government.

We continued to deliver Inmarsat-based satellite services under DoT’s Sui-Generis licence to critical users—including the Armed Forces, Coast Guard, ONGC, NDRF, and police organisations—while scaling Bharat Fiber (FTTH) across urban and rural India. Over 46,000 villages now have FTTH presence, and more than 41 lakh FTTH customers were served as on March 31, 2025.

To meet surging data demand and IPv6 compliance, all Business Areas were upgraded with high-capacity software BNGs; we are expanding OLTs to deepen Bharat Fiber penetration. We also operate Wi-Fi hotspots in captive and government-sponsored public locations through partnership models—and pioneering our National WiFi Roaming.

• An in-house Online FRT Monitoring Tool now tracks real-time movement of patrolling and repair teams for designated OFC segments—reducing MTTR and improving linear network reliability.
• The Prajval App has enhanced service assurance and customer satisfaction.
• BSNL Entertainment TV (BITV)—a non-exclusive, data-based content offering—provides live and OTT TV channels at no additional cost to BSNL mobile users.
• IFTV – a non-exclusive, data-based content offering live TV for FTTH customers.
• National WiFI roaming.
• Anti-spam network.

Despite industry-wide ARPU pressures, BSNL maintained its market position: as of January 31, 2025, India had 1,187.36 million telephone connections, of which 98.70 million were provided by BSNL, with overall telephone market share of ~8.31% and wireless share of ~8.04% (GSM: ~13.49%).

BSNL is uniquely positioned as India’s national telecom operator committed to bridging the digital divide. Our priorities are to:

• Accelerate 4G densification and prepare for phased 5G upgrades using spectrum allotted under the 2023 package (700 MHz + mid-band).
• Expand FTTH to meet rising household and enterprise data demand.
• Deepen enterprise and government solutions, including managed connectivity, FWA, and private network use-cases.
• Leverage indigenous technology (C-DOT core, Tejas RAN, TCS SI) and the 2025 add-on order for 18,685 sites to scale coverage and capacity.
• Sustain financial improvement through cost discipline, operational excellence, and calibrated asset monetisation.

We express our sincere gratitude to the Government of India and the Ministry of Communications for steadfast support through the 2019, 2022 and 2023 revival measures. We thank our shareholders, customers, partners, and vendors for their trust; and above all, our employees for their dedication, resilience, and commitment—truly the cornerstone of our progress.

As we move forward, our focus remains on strengthening operational efficiency, enhancing customer experience, and embracing technology with an Atmanirbhar mindset. With collective effort and clear execution, we are confident of navigating challenges and seizing the opportunities ahead.