In News:

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) announced in Hyderabad, the soft launch of BSNL Quantum 5G FWA. This indigenous, SIM-less fixed-wireless-access solution delivers fibre-like speeds over 5G radio.

What is Quantum 5G FWA?

Quantum 5G FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) is an indigenous, SIM-less, 5G broadband solution that offers fibre-like speeds using wireless 5G radio—eliminating the need for traditional fibre connections.

Key Technical Features:

• SIM-less Connectivity: Uses BSNL’s Direct-to-Device (D2D) platform; Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) auto-authenticates without a SIM card.
• Fully Indigenous Tech Stack: Core network, RAN (Radio Access Network), and CPE developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• High-Speed Performance:
  • Download: Up to 980 Mbps
  • Upload: 140 Mbps
  • Latency: Under 10 milliseconds
• Plug-and-Play Installation:
  • No trenching or fibre required.
  • Covers over 85% of Hyderabad households via existing BSNL tower grid.

Significance of the Launch

• India’s First SIM-less 5G FWA solution.
• Marks BSNL as a 5G pioneer in offering 100% made-in-India wireless broadband.
• Showcases Indian R&D strength and self-reliance in advanced telecom under Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Ideal for UHD streaming, cloud gaming, remote work, and smart home services.
• Bridges the digital divide by enabling affordable gigabit-speed internet, even in rural and underserved regions.

Roadmap and Future Expansion

• Pilot Rollouts (By September 2025): Target Cities: Bengaluru, Pondicherry, Visakhapatnam, Pune, Gwalior, Chandigarh
• Tariff Plans:
  • ?999/month for 100 Mbps
  • ?1499/month for 300 Mbps
• Enterprise Applications: Will support network-sliced, SLA-backed links for MSMEs and smart manufacturing through edge-cloud architecture.