Consumer Court Orders BSNL to Compensate Mangaluru Lawyer Over Persistent 4G Network Failure

By Editor

Posted on January 26, 2026

Consumer Court Orders BSNL to Compensate Mangaluru Lawyer Over Persistent 4G Network Failure

Mangaluru : In a significant ruling for telecom consumers, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to compensate a customer for failing to provide consistent 4G network services. The complaint was filed by Teja Kumar D.M., a young practicing advocate in Mangaluru, who had been a loyal user of BSNL since 2014. In 2023, he upgraded his connection to a 4G SIM card, expecting improved connectivity. However, after a few months of satisfactory service, the 4G network began to fail frequently, becoming highly erratic and often disappearing altogether, causing significant professional and personal inconvenience.

Despite the complainant bringing the issue to the company’s attention multiple times, the problem persisted. Following the company’s own instructions, Teja Kumar even purchased a brand-new 4G SIM card to resolve the technical glitches, but this failed to provide a permanent solution. Frustrated by the “on-and-off” nature of the 4G network and the company’s inability to rectify the service deficiency, the advocate decided to approach the Consumer Court to seek justice. He represented himself during the proceedings, arguing that the failure to provide the promised high-speed network despite collecting recharge fees amounted to a clear deficiency in service.

After hearing the arguments, the Consumer Commission found BSNL guilty of negligence in maintaining its 4G network standards. The court observed that it is the responsibility of the service provider to ensure uninterrupted connectivity to its customers. Consequently, the court directed BSNL to ensure a continuous and unrestricted 4G network for the complainant. Furthermore, the commission ordered the company to refund the recharge amount of ₹3,880 with 6% interest. Additionally, BSNL has been mandated to pay ₹10,000 as compensation for the mental agony caused by the service deficiency and ₹5,000 towards the litigation costs. The entire amount must be settled within 65 days of the order.