State-owned BSNL will start providing 5G services in 2024, Union Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday.

BSNL has shortlisted a consortium led by TCS and C-DOT to roll out a 4G network that will be upgraded to 5G in about a year after orders are placed under the contract.

“BSNL will start providing 5G services in 2024,” Vaishnaw told reporters.

He was speaking on the sidelines of an event where Jio and Airtel are rolling out 5G services in Odisha state. Vaishnaw launched the service together with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

“5G services will cover the entire state of Odisha within two years. Today, 5G services have been rolled out in Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack,” said the telecom minister.

He had promised to roll out 5G service in the state by January 26. Vaishnaw said the Modi government had allocated Rs 5,600 crore to strengthen telecom connectivity in the state.

“Today, 100 4G service towers covering 100 villages in Odisha have been activated,” he said.