BSNL Mobile is the mobile telecommunications division of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a public sector undertaking owned by the Government of India under the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications. It provides cellular voice, messaging and mobile data services across India, except in the metropolitan circles of Delhi and Mumbai, which are served by Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL).
| Type | Division of a public sector undertaking |
|---|---|
| Parent | Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited |
| Owner | Government of India |
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Service area | India (excluding Delhi and Mumbai) |
| Brands | BSNL Mobile, Cellone (historical) |
BSNL was incorporated on 15 September 2000 to take over the business of providing telecom services from the erstwhile Department of Telecom Services and Department of Telecom Operations. The mobile arm of the company was launched as a GSM cellular service under the brand name Cellone, and was later consolidated under the umbrella brand BSNL Mobile. It operates as one of the licensed cellular mobile service providers in 20 of the 22 telecom circles of India.
BSNL Mobile operates GSM-based networks in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, with 3G services on the 2100 MHz band. Its 4G rollout is notable for using a stack developed largely within India, integrating equipment and software from Indian firms and C-DOT, in line with the Government of India's Atmanirbhar Bharat policy on indigenous telecom equipment.
As the sole state-owned cellular operator with a pan-India footprint (in conjunction with MTNL in the metros), BSNL Mobile plays a strategic role in providing telecom connectivity in rural, remote and border areas where private operators have limited presence. It is also significant in national security communications and as a vehicle for promoting domestic telecom manufacturing.