Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said the government will soon set up a project management unit (PMU) for BSNL, wherein the state-owned telecom operator will be monitored on a daily basis with regard to 4G deployment.

The PMU will be set along with Tata Consultancy Services, Tejas Networks and C-DOT, with which BSNL is deploying indigenous 4G network.

“We are forming a PMU and that PMU will not set monthly targets, will not set weekly targets, but I have mandated them to set daily targets. Those daily targets will be monitored by the secretary and by myself,” Scindia told reporters on the sidelines of the theme launch event of India Mobile Congress 2024.

“Let me guarantee you, we are on track with 100,000 RANs (radio access networks) that we need to have in place,” Scindia added.

The government has confirmed that it will transfer the operations of MTNL to BSNL. It will proceed further with monetisation of assets to pay off the liabilities of MTNL.

“In the interim of monetisation of assets and some bonds coming due, the sovereign guarantee bonds, will stand good. Government of India stands behind those bonds and there will be no default,” Scindia said.

Comments from Scindia on MTNL bonds payment assume significance as government deposited Rs 92 crore to clear immediate bond interest dues of the state-owned telecom service provider ahead of the July 20. Earlier, ahead of the deadline MTNL informed the stock exchanges that it did not have sufficient funds.

Currently, BSNL is deploying 4G network across the country on the indigenous stack. According to Scindia, it is a sense of pride that the country is adopting domestic technology for BSNL 4G deployment instead of easily picking up available technologies.

On the telecom Act rules, the minister said the government will rollout all of them within 180 days to implement the Act.

The department of telecommunications (DoT) on Thursday also launched a scheme for reimbursing testing and certification costs to startups and MSMEs. The outlay of the scheme is set at Rs 25 crore. Under this, the government will reimburse up to Rs 50 lakh of the cost for certifications and testing.