5G services have been rolled out across all states and Union Territories in India and are now available in 773 out of 776 districts, including Lakshadweep, the government informed Parliament on Wednesday. As of February 28, telecom service providers (TSPs) have installed 4.69 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) nationwide, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, stated in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Telecom operators have expanded 5G coverage beyond the minimum rollout obligations set in the Notice Inviting Application (NIA) for the spectrum auction. However, further expansion of mobile services depends on the techno-commercial considerations of TSPs, the minister added.
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To accelerate 5G deployment, the government has undertaken several initiatives, including the auction of spectrum, financial reforms to rationalize Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), changes in Bank Guarantees (BGs) and interest rates, and the removal of Spectrum Usage Charges for spectrum acquired in and after the 2022 auction. Additional measures include simplifying the clearance process under SACFA (Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocations), launching the PM GatiShakti Sanchar portal, and implementing new Right of Way (RoW) Rules to streamline permissions for telecom infrastructure installation. A time-bound clearance system for using street furniture for small cells and telecommunication lines has also been introduced.
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The Indian telecom sector is witnessing significant growth both domestically and internationally, with substantial potential for further expansion, according to the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). India currently has 1,187 million telecom subscribers, with urban tele-density at 131.01% and rural tele-density at 58.31%. The rapid rollout of 5G is being driven by artificial intelligence (AI), indigenous data sets, and the establishment of localized data centers, further strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure.
