State-owned telecom network operator BSNL is in advanced talks with Reliance Jio Infocomm and Vodafone India for signing a 2G roaming agreement soon this month.

“We are in advanced stages for signing 2G intra-circle roaming agreement with Reliance Jio and Vodafone. I believe an agreement with them should be signed this month,” said BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Anupam Shrivastava.

The roaming agreement allows mobile customers of Reliance Jio and Vodafone to access BSNL network where there is a coverage gap. Once the agreement is finalised, BSNL mobile customers will also have access to the networks of Reliance Jio and Vodafone.

The public sector firm has around 1.14 lakh mobile base stations and is in the process of installing another 21,000 mobile towers across the country. In terms of mobile base stations, BSNL stands second in the country.

“Soon, we will start signing 3G intra-circle roaming agreement with other players. We are working on rates for 3G roaming agreement. Being a government firm, we need to have a uniform rate for all companies,” Shrivastava said.

“With the telecom ministry objecting to the 3G-ICR among the telecom operators mainly Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular, these players acquired 3G customers using each others network in telecom circles where they did not have 3G spectrum. The telecom tribunal TDSAT upheld the agreement signed by the private telecom operators. BSNL will follow the law of the land for signing the 3G-ICR agreement,” Shrivastava said

BSNL also held talks with telecom major Bharti Airtel for sharing spectrum circles including Rajasthan and Maharashtra. “We had a discussion with Airtel for spectrum sharing in three circles – 1800, 900 and 2100 Mhz band. If talks are finalised, then we will liberalise spectrum in these circles,” Shrivastava added.

With liberalised spectrum, BSNL will be able to provide 4G service to its customers through the airwaves which it is currently using for 2G services.

Airtel spokesperson said, “We have only held preliminary discussions with BSNL in the past and there is nothing ongoing or at an advanced stage. Being a PSU, BSNL will always run a transparent process for spectrum sharing and the same will be open to all operators. Airtel will examine and explore possibilities of cooperation.”