State-run telecom company BSNL is on track to complete the deployment of its indigenously developed 4G technology across 100,000 base stations by May 2025, with plans to transition to 5G by June 2025, according to Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, Scindia remarked that while India followed the global lead in 4G and progressed alongside the world in 5G, it aims to lead the world in 6G technology.
India’s Accelerated 5G Rollout
Scindia emphasized the government’s commitment to self-reliance in telecom by highlighting that BSNL’s network is built using technology developed by a consortium of C-DOT and TCS.
“We now have a fully functional core and radio access network. By April-May next year, we aim to have 100,000 sites ready, with 38,300 already rolled out. BSNL’s 4G network will transition to 5G by June 2025, making India the sixth country globally to achieve this,” Scindia said.
He also noted India’s rapid 5G deployment, with 450,000 towers installed in just 22 months, covering 80% of the population. The Indian telecom sector has undergone a major transformation, with broadband connections surging to 940 million from just 60 million a decade ago.
