BSNL Records Rs 542 Crore Profit In Two Quarters After Years Of Losses

Last Updated:May 27, 2025, 19:05 IST

BSNL posted consecutive profits in FY 2024-25, with Rs 280 crore in Q4 and Rs 262 crore in Q3, a turnaround from a Rs 849 crore loss last year.

In a development hailed as historic within the telecom sector, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the state-run telecom provider long beleaguered by mounting losses and dwindling relevance, has posted back-to-back quarterly profits.

As of Financial Year 2024-25, BSNL recorded a net profit of Rs 280 crore in the fourth quarter (Q4), following a Rs 262 crore profit in the third quarter (Q3). The combined Rs 542 crore profit marks a significant reversal in fortunes, especially considering the telecom PSU had reported a staggering loss of Rs 849 crore in the same quarter last year.

For a company once seen as a relic of the pre-digital era, BSNL’s resurgence reflects not just fiscal recovery, but a structural transformation. A mix of tighter financial discipline, operational streamlining, and renewed state support has revived the public-sector giant.

Key among the changes was a decisive effort to contain costs while accelerating its long-delayed 4G rollout, a step that proved crucial in restoring consumer trust, particularly in rural and semi-urban markets.

The demand for BSNL’s fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) services has seen a significant uptick, driven by underserved areas where private players were slow to expand, said a senior official familiar with the company’s operational strategy.

The Centre’s sustained capital infusion, part of its broader Digital India vision, also played a pivotal role. Massive government-backed investment enabled the rapid deployment of infrastructure and service upgrades that had long stalled due to bureaucratic inertia and funding constraints.

But BSNL is not resting on its hard-won laurels. The company has signaled ambitious plans that go well beyond profitability. By 2025, it aims to complete its pan-India 4G deployment, while simultaneously advancing toward a domestically-driven 5G rollout.

Additionally, the telecom PSU is working to double its FTTH subscriber base, directly challenging the dominance of private companies like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.

BSNL’s return to profitability is a narrative of resilience and strategic pivot in the public sector, said telecom analyst Mahesh Rawat. He said it was a message to the market that with the right support and vision, a public enterprise can not only survive but thrive against private competition.

As the telecom industry braces for its next phase of disruption, with AI-driven services, edge computing, and 5G integration, BSNL’s turnaround offers a potent reminder of the latent power of public infrastructure when aligned with national digital goals.

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