Once considered a laggard, BSNL has experienced a notable subscriber boost in recent months, as many users shifted to the state-owned telecom provider following recent tariff hikes by private telecom giants, The TOI reported.

According to TRAI’s latest data, BSNL’s subscriber base has been consistently increasing, driven by its competitive pricing and the “soft launch” of its 4G services.

In July alone, BSNL gained nearly 3 million new subscribers. In contrast, major players like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea faced declines, with Airtel losing 1.7 million users, Vodafone Idea dropping by 1.4 million, and Jio seeing a reduction of 0.8 million subscribers.

BSNL’s competitive edge comes as it capitalizes on affordability, offering lower tariffs that appeal to cost-conscious consumers amidst the rising prices from private operators.