DoT Extends Robert Ravi’s BSNL Tenure
The interim extension runs until January 14, 2027, as the government continues the search for regular leadership at the state-owned telecom operator.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has extended A. Robert J. Ravi’s tenure as chairman and managing director (CMD) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) by three months, until January 14, 2027. The extension was announced on October 15 as an interim measure.
According to an official order dated October 14, the extension is subject to approval by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). Ravi has been holding additional charge as chairman of BSNL and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) since July 13, 2024.
Ravi is a 1990-batch Indian Telecom Service officer. He was promoted to the rank of senior deputy director general in August 2026. His leadership tenure has been extended several times while the government works through the process of appointing regular leadership for the state-owned telecom company.
BSNL’s recent operational developments include the deployment of an indigenously developed 4G network at around one lakh sites through a Tata Consultancy Services-led consortium. The company has also reported improvements in revenue and average revenue per user as part of its broader turnaround efforts.
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said BSNL’s provisional revenue from operations rose to ₹4,418 crore in the first quarter of FY27, from ₹4,017 crore in the corresponding quarter a year earlier, an increase of ₹401 crore or approximately 10%.
Scindia attributed growth to the enterprise and consumer mobility segments, while the consumer fixed-access segment remained broadly flat. BSNL’s wireless subscriber base stood at 9.36 crore in August 2026, according to industry data compiled by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
The latest extension maintains continuity at the public-sector telecom operator while the leadership appointment process remains unresolved. The DoT order describes the extension as interim and subject to ACC approval.