BSNL, the state-owned telecom service provider is quite late in the 4G race. As the world is gearing up to experience 5G BSNL has just introduced 4G in some of the telecom circles across India. I got my BSNL 4G SIM card a few days back and since I posted about it on Facebook, many people have asked quite many questions regarding BSNL 4G. So I thought of just covering the FAQs in this article. So, if you are a BSNL subscriber or planning to switch to BSNL 4G, you must go through it.
FAQs on BSNL 4G
1. When will I get BSNL 4G in my area?
This is totally subjective as BSNL 4G is rolling out step by step, in different circles. In a circle, even if BSNL 4G is launched, that doesn’t mean that all the areas will have 4G connectivity. The best way to find out about the BSNL 4G rollout is to contact the local telephone exchange and ask the officials about it. However, if you’re not willing to visit the exchange, another way is to contact BSNL via Twitter and share your location details, so that they can check and let you know about the status of BSNL 4G rollout in your area.
2. Does BSNL 4G offer VoLTE?
Sadly, No! Currently, BSNL doesn’t offer 4G VoLTE. So voice calls are made through GSM only. There is no official confirmation from BSNL regarding the rollout of VoLTE in the future.
3. How much will I have to pay for 4G?
In some circles, existing BSNL customers may have to pay a nominal amount to get a BSNL 4G SIM card, but in some circles, SIM cards are being provided for free to existing customers. In Assam, BSNL is replacing SIM cards for free. However, if you are willing to get a new connection, you will have to pay for the SIM card or FRC, as per tariffs set by BSNL in your circle.
4. BSNL 3G isn’t working in my area, so how can I expect 4G?
It seems like BSNL 3G has stopped working in many areas because BSNL is scrapping 3G completely and focusing on providing better speeds with 4G. 2G services will still work everywhere across the nation as in remote locations, telephone service is the most required. If you’re not getting BSNL 3G service, you’re likely going to see BSNL 4G rolling out in your area soon. So, don’t panic and if you are doubtful, reach out of BSNL online or contact your local JTO or SDO to find out the reason why 3G service has stopped working.
5. I’m planning to switch to BSNL, how do I do it?
You can just submit a valid ID and address proof and 2-4 copies of photos to any BSNL exchange or retailer to get a new SIM card. However, for new connections, BSNL will likely hand out a 3G SIM card, which you will need to upgrade to 4G once you have activated it. The best option is to port to BSNL, if you wish to retain your phone number or if you don’t want to use multiple SIM cards. To port to BSNL, you can just send ‘PORT Your Existing Mobile Number’ to 1900. You will receive a porting code, which you need to submit along with valid documents and photo to BSNL retailer or exchange, and you will get the number ported to BSNL within 15 days.
6. I’m an existing BSNL customer, how can I get BSNL 4G?
if you are an existing BSNL customer, first of all, be sure that BSNL 4G service has rolled out in your area. Once you have ensured that, visit the nearest BSNL exchange and ask for a 4G upgrade. They will hand over a blank SIM card to you. Once you have got the SIM card, send ‘RE4G BSNL 4G SIM Number Circle Short Code’ using your existing BSNL SIM card to 53734. The SIM number will be mentioned on the 4G SIM card you just got. Do this very carefully.
Once you have sent the SMS, you will receive a reply that you need to confirm the SIM Swap and the SIM number will be there in the reply. Cross verify the SIM number, and once you have done that, you need to confirm SIM Swap. To confirm, send one more SMS, again using the existing BSNL SIM card to 53734. This time you just need to write ‘RE4G YES’ and send the SMS to 53734. Once the SMS is sent, you will again get a reply from BSNL confirming SIM Swap. Within the next 24 hours, the BSNL 4G SIM will be activated, and you can start using it. For circle codes, refer to the table provided below.
| Circle Name | Circle Short Code |
|---|---|
| ANDAMAN TELECOM CIRCLE | AN |
| ANDHRA PRADESH | AP |
| ASSAM TELCOM | AS |
| BIHAR TELECOM | BH |
| CHHATTISGARH | CG |
| CHENNAI | CHN |
| CALCUTTA TELECOM DISTRICT | CTD |
| GUJARAT | GJ |
| HIMACHAL PRADESH | HP |
| HARYANA | HR |
| JHARKHAND TELECOM CIRCLE | JH |
| JAMMU AND KASHMIR | JK |
| KERALA | KE or KL |
| KARNATAKA | KTK |
| MAHARASHTRA | MH |
| MADHYA PRADESH | MP |
| NORTHEAST 1 | NE1 |
| NORTHEAST 2 | NE2 |
| ORISSA TELECOM CIRCLE | OR |
| PUNJAB | PB |
| RAJASTHAN | RJ |
| TELANGANA | TG |
| TAMIL NADU | TN |
| UPEAST | UE |
| UTTARANCHAL | UL |
| UP WEST | UW |
| WEST BENGAL | WB |
7. I already have BSNL 4G SIM card, but there is no BSNL 4G network in my area, what can I do?
In some circles, BSNL 4G SIM cards have already been provided to customers. But as 4G has not been rolled out, customers can’t enjoy BSNL 4G just yet. To know about the status, contact BSNL.
8. I have activated BSNL 4G SIM, how do I configure it?
There is no need for configuring anything. APN settings will be applied automatically.
9. Are there separate data plans for BSNL 4G?
No. Plans are the same for 3G and 4G. You can just go for any 3G/4G data plan or you can get unlimited plans.
10. How do I check the speed of BSNL 4G in my area?
Before going for BSNL 4G, ask any existing customer about the speeds and if he is not aware of it, just try a speed test. It is better to know about the speeds in your area before switching.
11. I am getting very low speeds on BSNL 4G, what should I do?
You should file a formal complaint through the online portal or IVRS and wait for a response. However, during the time BSNL responds and tries to fix the problem, you can just get a SIM for temporary data usage.
