As of July 2025, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has launched an attractive BSNL 400GB 4G data plan priced at just ₹400 for 40 days, making waves in the Indian telecom market. This budget-friendly offering aims to lure cost-conscious consumers, but how does it stack up against competitors like Jio, Airtel, and Vi? In this article, we’ll break down the plan details, compare it with other telecom providers, explore BSNL’s strategy to expand its network, and discuss why its 4G focus might be outdated as India races toward 5G adoption.
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BSNL 400GB 4G Data Plan:
Key DetailsThe BSNL 400GB plan is designed to offer high-speed 4G data at an affordable rate. Here’s what you need to know:
- Data Allowance: 400GB of high-speed 4G data.
- Validity: 40 days.
- Price: ₹400 (approximately ₹1 per GB).
- Speed: Up to 4G speeds, though user reports suggest average speeds around 1.8 Mbps.
- Additional Benefits: No specific add-ons, such as unlimited calling or SMS, are mentioned, focusing solely on data.
While the price-to-data ratio seems compelling, the real-world experience depends heavily on BSNL’s network performance, which has been a point of contention among users.
Comparison with Competitors
To assess the BSNL 400GB plan’s value, let’s compare it with similar offerings from Jio, Airtel, and Vi in a tabular format based on 30-40 day validity plans available as of July 2025:
| Provider | Plan Price (₹) | Data Allowance | Validity (Days) | Speed | Additional Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSNL | 400 | 400GB | 40 | 4G (avg. 1.8 Mbps) | None |
| Jio | 479 | 2GB/day (56GB) | 28 | 4G/5G (avg. 10-20 Mbps) | Unlimited calls, 100 SMS/day |
| Airtel | 499 | 3GB/day (84GB) | 28 | 4G/5G (avg. 15-25 Mbps) | Unlimited calls, 100 SMS/day, Amazon Prime |
| Vi | 449 | 2.5GB/day (70GB) | 28 | 4G (avg. 8-12 Mbps) | Unlimited calls, 100 SMS/day, Vi Movies & TV |
Analysis
- Cost Efficiency: BSNL 400GB for ₹400 translates to the cheapest per-GB rate (₹1/GB), far below Jio (₹8.55/GB), Airtel (₹5.95/GB), and Vi (₹6.41/GB) for equivalent validity periods.
- Data Volume: BSNL 400GB dwarfs the daily data caps of competitors, which typically offer 56-84GB over 28 days.
- Speed and Reliability: User feedback on X and TRAI Drive Tests (May 2025) indicates BSNL’s 4G speeds average 1.8 Mbps, significantly slower than Jio (10-20 Mbps) and Airtel (15-25 Mbps), which also offer 5G in select areas.
- Additional Perks: Jio, Airtel, and Vi include unlimited calling, SMS, and entertainment benefits, adding value beyond raw data.
While BSNL wins on price and data volume, its sluggish network performance and lack of bundled services make it less competitive for users prioritizing speed and versatility.
BSNL’s Strategy to Expand Network Coverage
Under the ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ mission, BSNL has outlined an ambitious plan to deploy 100,000 additional 4G towers across India by 2025. This initiative aims to bridge the digital divide in rural and semi-urban areas where private players like Jio and Airtel have limited presence. The 4G equipment is also designed to be upgradable to 5G, signalling a long-term vision. BSNL’s focus includes installing Super Edge Routers and enhancing its Internet Protocol Multi-protocol Label Switching (IPMPLS) network to support this expansion.
This strategy leverages BSNL’s government backing and extensive land assets to roll out infrastructure at a lower cost, targeting a subscriber base that values affordability over speed. However, despite these efforts, BSNL lost 1.8 million subscribers in April 2025 (TRAI data), highlighting challenges in retaining customers amid network quality concerns.
Is BSNL’s 4G Focus Outdated?
While BSNL doubles down on 4G, India is rapidly advancing toward 5G, led by private telecom giants Jio and Airtel. As of July 2025, Airtel has rolled out 5G services in over 200 cities, promising nationwide coverage by 2026, while Jio leads with 5G in 400+ cities, targeting fixed-wireless access (FWA) markets globally. TRAI’s May 2025 Drive Tests crowned Airtel the 5G leader, with download speeds exceeding 300 Mbps in urban areas.
BSNL’s 4G-centric approach risks becoming obsolete as 5G offers faster speeds (up to 1 Gbps), lower latency, and support for emerging technologies like IoT, autonomous vehicles, and AR/VR. Jio’s Q-5G FWA plans starting at ₹500 and Airtel’s enterprise-focused 5G solutions underscore a shift toward future-ready networks. BSNL’s delay in 5G deployment—despite plans to introduce Q-5G services in select circles—puts it at a disadvantage, especially as iPhone users on Jio and Airtel already enjoy 5G with software updates.
Conclusion
The BSNL 400GB 4G data plan, priced at ₹400 for 40 days, is a budget-friendly option for data-heavy users willing to tolerate slower speeds. However, its value is diminished by inconsistent network performance compared to Jio, Airtel, and Vi, which offer faster 4G/5G speeds and additional benefits. BSNL’s strategy to expand 4G coverage is a step toward inclusivity, but its reluctance to pivot to 5G aligns poorly with India’s technological trajectory. For now, the plan appeals to cost-sensitive rural users, but urban consumers may find competitors 5G offerings more appealing as the nation embraces next-gen connectivity.
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