Echelon Edge partners with BSNL to set up 5G private networks for its customers

IT product development and solution provider Echelon Edge Pvt. Ltd. has signed an agreement with state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to be able to deploy private 5G to its customers. The agreement was signed on January 16 for the empanelment as Captive Non-Public Network Provider (CNPNP) for the provision of Captive Non-Public Network Services to the enterprise customers. This partnership will enable the Gurgaon-based company to be a provider of private LTE and 5G services under the BSNL spectrum allocated for captive networks.

Pertinent to mention here that only a few businesses have been able to secure the 5G spectrum to set up private networks. Under the agreement, Echelon Edge will set up and maintain private networks for its customers in partnership with BSNL.

Gaurav Gandhi, Founder, and CEO of Echelon Edge Pvt Ltd said, the partnership will bolster the company’s efforts to be a trustworthy and reliable provider of captive networks with 5G coming into play.

“We are going to work for the enablement of various industries providing them with networks designed specifically meeting their needs. We will be able to provide a high-quality network ensuring full automation of the operations and assuring network security that protects the businesses’ data. The partnership with BSNL will help us to provide seamless connectivity and 5G solutions to our customers in several sectors and domains,” he said.

Echelon Edge is looking forward to setting up private 5G in mines, refineries, airports, office buildings, government infrastructure, etc. According to reports, BSNL could provide 5G services by March 2024. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had recently initiated a process to identify 5G spectrum bands– particularly those with a lower potential to be used for commercial purposes by mobile operators – that can be administratively allocated to companies for rolling out captive private networks.

Indian telecom companies will play an equally important role in the private 5G networks space, as per industry experts. Once the DoT identifies the most suitable frequencies for private networks, it will ask the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to give pricing for the allocation of those bands.

Although Trai had already identified some spectrum bands that could be reserved for private networks, the DoT wants to explore more bands that would have a lower commercial potential.

According to the initial guidelines on private networks released by DoT, companies seeking to deploy their own private networks can lease spectrum from telecom operators or get it directly from DoT. Enterprises can also ask telecom operators to roll out their private networks.