GG News Bureau
Hyderabad, 20th June: In a major leap towards indigenous 5G innovation, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on June 18 soft-launched its Quantum 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service in Hyderabad. Touted as India’s first SIM-less, fully home-grown 5G FWA solution, the service was inaugurated at BSNL’s Ameerpet Exchange by Shri A. Robert J. Ravi, Chairman and Managing Director of BSNL/MTNL.
Describing the initiative as a landmark in India’s telecom self-reliance, Shri Ravi said, “Quantum 5G FWA demonstrates how Indian engineers can create world-class connectivity. Hyderabad’s tech-savvy ecosystem makes it the perfect launch pad for our next-generation access portfolio.”
Key Features of Quantum 5G FWA:
- SIM-less architecture: Leveraging BSNL’s proprietary Direct-to-Device platform, the customer premise equipment (CPE) auto-authenticates without the need for a physical SIM.
- 100% indigenous tech stack: Core, Radio Access Network (RAN), and CPE designed and integrated by Indian vendors under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
- Gigabit speeds: Initial deployment in Hyderabad recorded 980 Mbps download and 140 Mbps upload speeds with sub-10 ms latency, enabling UHD streaming, cloud gaming, and low-lag remote work.
- Quick deployment: The plug-and-play self-install gateway can reach 85% of Hyderabad households under BSNL’s current tower grid, without the need for trenching or laying fibre.
Post-Launch Roadmap:
- Expansion pilots will begin in Bengaluru, Pondicherry, Visakhapatnam, Pune, Gwalior, and Chandigarh by September 2025.
- Introductory tariff plans start at ₹999 for 100 Mbps and ₹1499 for 300 Mbps.
- Enterprise offerings will soon include edge-cloud services, supporting network slicing and SLA-backed links for MSMEs and industrial clusters.
This soft launch is aimed at refining user experience before a full-scale nationwide rollout. The event was attended by BSNL board members, senior officials from the Department of Telecommunications, industry partners, and representatives from academia.
With Quantum 5G FWA, BSNL positions itself as the first Indian telecom operator to offer indigenous 5G radio with SIM-less authentication, marking a significant milestone in India’s digital transformation.
