Network Interference Crisis Hits Rajasthan Telecom Circle
Telecom infrastructure in Rajasthan has become the center of a technical dispute that is affecting service quality for consumers. The issue involves signal interference between Bharti Airtel's operations and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited's (BSNL) newly deployed 4G equipment supplied by Tejas Networks.
The conflict emerged when Airtel raised concerns about network interference in the Rajasthan circle several weeks ago. The Tata group company, Tejas Networks, has now committed to working collaboratively with both telecom operators to resolve the technical problems quickly.
Technical Root of the Problem
According to Airtel's technical analysis, the core issue lies in frequency band interference. The deployment in the 800MHz band for BSNL's 4G services is interfering with Airtel's 900MHz band operations. This interference is directly impacting the quality of services delivered to consumers in the region.
Arnob Roy, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at Tejas Networks, clarified the company's position in response to media queries. "The interference observed at a few Airtel sites in the Rajasthan circle is in no way a reflection of the quality or capability of our equipment," Roy stated. He emphasized that the solution requires additional filtering on antennas rather than any modifications to their core equipment.
BSNL has already begun implementing this technical fix, having installed additional filters at approximately 1,000 sites across Rajasthan. The state-owned telecom operator is continuing this deployment process to comprehensively address the interference issue.
Regulatory Intervention and Escalation
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has taken formal charge of the matter through its Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing. Government officials familiar with the situation confirmed that the issue is under active supervision and progressing toward a workable technical solution.
The situation gained additional attention when BSNL approached Telecommunications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for guidance on resolving the interference problem. A review meeting on the matter is expected to be convened shortly, according to a government official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The tension between the companies escalated when Airtel described Tejas Networks' equipment as "sub-standard." Roy countered this characterization by pointing out that their equipment coexists with other operators' infrastructure across 100,000 sites nationwide without similar interference issues.
"This situation is much more severe than the case when base stations are deployed on the same tower, since the antennas are not facing each other," Roy explained, highlighting that the problem could be exacerbated by the close proximity of tower sites with antennas facing each other directly.
Broader Industry Implications
The Rajasthan circle represents significant business value for Airtel. According to an ICICI Securities report dated November 25, Airtel's adjusted gross revenue (AGR) in Rajasthan increased by 19.7% year-on-year to reach ₹3,337 crore during the first half of 2025-26. The circle accounts for approximately 6.1% of Bharti Airtel's total AGR of ₹54,767.8 crore during the same period.
Independent telecom analyst Parag Kar provided technical context for the interference problem. "As India's 800MHz band sits dangerously close to the GSM 900 band, it leaves almost no guard space between BSNL's downlink and Airtel's uplink, which is the root cause," Kar explained. He noted that when base stations are located very close to each other, interference becomes inevitable without proper technical safeguards.
This incident has highlighted a regulatory gap in India's telecom framework. In its recent submission to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) regarding spectrum auctions, Airtel pointed out that the Indian regulatory framework lacks explicit, comprehensive guidelines to address interference mitigation in scenarios involving adjacent-band deployments.
The resolution of this technical challenge comes at a critical time for BSNL, which is in the midst of a major 4G network expansion. As part of a revival package approved by the Union cabinet in 2022, the government sanctioned 100,000 4G tower sites for BSNL at a cost of ₹19,592 crore. The state-owned operator invested ₹25,000 crore in 2024-25 to install these towers for 4G services.
TCS and a C-DOT-led consortium secured the majority of this ₹25,000-crore project to supply telecom equipment to BSNL. BSNL's indigenous 4G stack was developed through collaboration between Tejas Networks and C-DOT, with TCS serving as the system integrator for the massive network deployment.
