Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is preparing to offer free insurance coverage to subscribers on select prepaid mobile plans, a move that Chairman and Managing Director Robert J Ravi says will extend financial protection to those who may not otherwise have access to it. According to Ravi, speaking with ET, BSNL aims to be a pioneer in bringing insurance to a wider audience.
Insurance Details
The insurance benefits will include accidental coverage up to Rs 1 lakh and cyber-fraud protection of Rs 10,000. These services will be bundled with the STV 202 and STV 2449 prepaid plans. Ravi indicated the initiative is intended to particularly benefit users such as farm workers, farmers, and fishermen.
While BSNL intends to be a leader in this area, ET notes that Bharti Airtel previously offered insurance with its plans, including the Rs 179 and Rs 279 options.
BSNL’s Financial Outlook
The move comes as BSNL works to improve its Average Revenue Per User (ARPU). The company’s ARPU currently stands at Rs 101 for FY26, a significant increase from Rs 71 in the previous year. BSNL is targeting an ARPU of Rs 150 within the next two to three years, and is seeing growth in its wireless user base, which is contributing to both ARPU and overall revenue.
