Non-availability of 4G spectrum keeps BSNL behind its competitors: Report

Non-availability of 4G spectrum has left state-owned BSNL behind its competitors in consumer experience despite improvement in network performance, according to a study by mobile analytics firm Opensignal. BSNL improved performance in download speed and the latency required for better mobile broadband experience, however, it figured nowhere close to its competitors Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, which are loaded with spectrum for 4G services.

“While BSNL’s 3G services remained some way behind the pack, it managed to improve its download speed experience score by nearly 7 per cent in the past six months,” Opensignal study conducted between December 1, 2018, and February 28, 2019.

The study comprised 54.96 lakh devices and 2,030 crore measurements, said Opensignal.

BSNL, which has improved its network latency by 18 per cent, still lagged behind competitors with about 94 millisecond latency, according to the study.

The study found Bharti Airtel to be the fastest mobile network with an average download speed of 8.7 megabit per second (mbps), followed by Reliance Jio with 6.3 mbps, Vodafone 5.9 mbps and Idea 5.4 mbps.

Opensignal rated Vodafone and Idea as separate companies because they are yet to synergise their operations completely.

Reliance Jio ruled the market with 97.5 per cent 4G network coverage, followed by Bharti Airtel with 85.6 per cent, Idea 77 per cent and Vodafone 76.3 per cent coverage.

“At this rate, we would expect all four of the country’s main LTE operators to have passed 80 per cent 4G availability in six months, a milestone we would typically only expect to see in much more developed markets,” Opensignal said.

The study found Idea leading the chart in terms of upload speed.

“Idea won our upload speed experience award but the operator is coming under pressure from its gaining rivals,” the study said.

It added that Idea grew its average score by 4 per cent in the past months to reach 3 mbps, while all its competitors saw double-figure increases in our average upload speed experience measurements.

Vodafone followed Idea with a score of 2.6 mbps, while Airtel passed the two-mbps mark to reach 2.2 mbps. BSNL’s average upload speed was found to be around 0.9 mbps.

Reliance Jio-led latency experience with a score of 62.5 millisecond (ms). It was followed by Airtel with a score of 70.5 ms, Vodafone 73.3 ms and Idea 84.4 with latency of 84.4 ms.