NEW DELHI: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has appointed Arvind Kumar as Director (Consumer Mobility), strengthening its leadership team as the state-owned telecom operator continues efforts to expand its mobile services and improve customer experience.

According to media reports, the Ministry of Communications has issued an order confirming Kumar’s appointment with immediate effect. His tenure will begin from the date he assumes charge and continue until his superannuation on April 30, 2031, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Kumar brings experience in telecommunications regulation and technology development. Before his appointment, he served as an advisor to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and was on deputation as Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI). STPI operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and supports the growth of India’s information technology and software services sectors.

Kumar’s appointment follows the Public Enterprises Selection Board’s (PESB) recommendation in July 2026. According to media reports, the board recommended his name on July 11 after interviewing seven candidates for the board-level position.

The candidates included senior BSNL executives handling consumer mobility, transmission and business operations, alongside Kumar, who was then heading STPI.

As Director (Consumer Mobility), Kumar will oversee a key segment of BSNL’s operations, covering its consumer mobile services and related business strategy. The role is important to the company’s efforts to attract and retain subscribers, improve service quality and strengthen its competitiveness in India’s telecom market.

BSNL has been working to modernise its network and expand its indigenous 4G services as it seeks to improve connectivity and strengthen its position against private telecom operators. Leadership in consumer mobility will be significant to these efforts, particularly in translating network expansion into better customer experience and business growth.

Kumar’s appointment marks the completion of the selection process that began with the PESB recommendation in July and places an experienced technology and telecom-sector professional in a key operational leadership position at BSNL.