Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) reported a “transformative” financial turnaround for FY2025–26, with its Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) surging 42% year-on-year to ₹101, up from ₹71 in the previous fiscal year.
The milestone was highlighted during a strategic review meeting on April 23, 2026, chaired by Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia, who credited the growth to BSNL’s transition from a 3G provider to a competitive 4G player using an indigenous telecom stack.
1. FY26 Financial Performance Summary
The ARPU jump is the centerpiece of a broader recovery in BSNL’s core financials, driven by a 13% rise in total revenue for the first nine months of the year.
| Metric | FY2025-26 Performance | Change (YoY) |
| ARPU | ₹101 | ▲ 42% |
| EBITDA (9-Month) | ₹4,858 Crore | ▲ 105% |
| Revenue (9-Month) | ₹17,705 Crore | ▲ 13% |
| Full-Year Revenue Target | ₹27,500 Crore | ▲ 20% (Projected) |
| Capex (4G Network) | ₹20,000 Crore | Record High |
2. Strategic Turnaround Drivers
The shift in BSNL’s fortune is attributed to several technical and operational shifts overseen by CMD A. Robert J. Ravi:
- The 4G/5G Stack: BSNL successfully deployed 1 lakh (100,000) 4G sites nationwide in collaboration with a TCS-led consortium. This indigenous stack makes India one of only five countries with end-to-end telecom manufacturing capabilities.
- Fixed-Line Leadership: In a surprising market shift, BSNL surpassed rivals Jio and Airtel to become the top-performing fixed-line internet operator in FY26, according to French firm nPerf. It recorded average download speeds of 78.5 Mbps.
- Enterprise Growth: The Enterprise Business (EB) vertical was the best-performing segment, seeing a 15% revenue jump. The Odisha circle led the way with a staggering 68% growth in enterprise revenue.
- Circle-Level Accountability: The Ministry of Communications has implemented a “best-practice” model, urging lower-performing circles to emulate the high ARPU and QoS (Quality of Service) metrics seen in circles like Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala.
3. Comparison with Private Rivals
While BSNL’s growth is historic, it still faces a significant gap compared to private-sector players who have already fully monetized 5G.
- Jio: Reported an ARPU of ₹214 in Q4 FY26, with average data usage crossing 42GB per user.
- Airtel: Continues to lead the industry with an ARPU estimated at ₹235+ following recent tariff hikes.
- The Gap: At ₹101, BSNL’s ARPU remains the lowest in the Indian market, but the 42% growth rate is currently the highest in the sector, signaling a successful “premiumization” of its user base as they move from 2G/3G to 4G services.
4. Future Outlook: FY27
For the upcoming fiscal year, the government has directed BSNL to focus on three key pillars:
- 5G Upgrade: Transitioning the existing 4G sites to 5G capability.
- CNAP Launch: Introducing a “Caller Name Presentation” service (similar to Truecaller) based on verified KYC data within 3–4 months.
- Tower Expansion: Adding another 60,000 mobile towers to further strengthen last-mile connectivity.