Users are still waiting for BSNL 5G. The company is preparing an indigenous 5G network, but an official date for its commercial launch—expected by September 2026—has not yet been announced.
BSNL 5G launch? Will it work on the old SIM or do you need a new one? Find out everything here.
The wait for 5G services continues for BSNL users in India. Following Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, the state-run telecom company BSNL is also preparing for a 5G network rollout. However, the company has not announced a firm commercial launch date for nationwide BSNL 5G services for the general public up to September 2026. Consequently, it would be incorrect to treat any specific date currently circulating regarding BSNL 5G as the official launch date.
BSNL has been working on its 5G preparations for quite some time. The company has successfully tested indigenous 5G RAN and Core networks using the 3.6GHz and 700MHz bands. The government has also indicated that many sites currently being deployed for BSNL’s 4G network could eventually be upgraded to support 5G connectivity. In March 2026, the government stated that spectrum across multiple bands had been allocated to BSNL for both 4G and 5G services.
Will a new SIM be required?
The biggest question now is whether one needs to purchase a new SIM to use BSNL 5G or if the existing SIM will suffice. BSNL’s preparations offer a significant clue in this regard; the company is preparing and making available 5G NSA-ready USIMs. In March 2026, BSNL’s Uttar Pradesh (East) circle issued a tender to procure 100,000 128K 5G NSA-ready SIM/USIMs. This indicates that the company is arranging for new 5G-ready SIMs for the 5G network.
However, this does not necessarily mean that every existing BSNL customer will have to replace their SIM immediately upon the 5G launch. If your current SIM is already a 4G/5G-ready USIM, it is possible that you will be able to access 5G services using that same SIM. BSNL is already providing 4G and 5G NSA-ready USIMs, and specific pricing for these has already been set in certain circles.
A 5G-enabled phone is essential
To use BSNL 5G, a 5G-enabled smartphone is required in addition to the SIM card. It is also crucial that the phone supports the specific 5G bands utilized by BSNL. Therefore, simply swapping the SIM card in a 4G phone will not enable the use of BSNL 5G.
For now, the best advice for BSNL customers is that there is no immediate need to purchase a new SIM card specifically for 5G. Once BSNL 5G becomes commercially available in your area, the company will clarify whether the service will be accessible on existing SIM cards or if a SIM upgrade is necessary. While BSNL’s current preparations are paving the way for 5G, the official date for a nationwide commercial launch is still awaited.
