L&T Tech partners with BSNL to deploy 5G connectivity solutions for enterprises

L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has partnered with Bharat Sanchar Nigan Limited (BSNL), marking its foray into the 5G private network space. BSNL and LTTS will work jointly to help global enterprises in deploying 5G connectivity solutions to accelerate digital transformation.

In the agreement, BSNL will be the official network provider, providing the spectrum through Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) or isolated allotment. LTTS, on the other hand, will be responsible for deploying equipment, applications, servers, and software, along with the core for the integration of devices within the customer’s ecosystem.

“We are excited to partner with BSNL across the various joint private networks and digitisation to support the growth of sustainable and smart spaces. This partnership is a perfect-fit offering to enterprises with complementary network & digital capabilities coming from both organizations,” said Amit Chadha, chief executive officer and managing director, LTTS. In an interview with Mint today, LTTS’ Chadha said that as part of the company’s expansion plans, the research and development division would focus on artificial intelligence and 5G. The company also plans to increase its workforce by five times 1,000 in 2023.

A BSNL spokesperson said that the partnership with LTTS will help it support global organisations in their digital transformation. “5G is the next Big Enabler which can positively benefit the lives of millions of end-users and we expect rapid adoption of private networks across multiple use cases and major industries”.

LTTS has partnered with Nvidia and open-source provider Mavenir in Europe, and with Qualcomm in the US for private 5G networks.

The private 5G market is expected to cross the $8 billion mark by 2026, with a compound annual growth of 35.7% from 2022, according to International Data Corp.(IDC). For digital transformation at faster speeds and lower latency, Indian enterprises are increasingly deploying  Non-Public Networks (NPN). There has also been a push to adopt Captive Non-Public Networks (CNPN) for companies focused on network management for security.