India’s 5G Base Stations Top 4.6 Lakh, but Rollout Pace Slows

India’s 5G base transceiver stations (BTS) count recently surpassed 4.6 lakh in October 2024, adding just a few thousand in the past months. Following an initial rapid deployment, telecom operators have moderated their 5G expansion, citing extensive coverage already achieved and limited monetization opportunities. In July, India crossed the 4.5 lakh BTS milestone, but it took four months to reach the 4.6 lakh mark.

In 2022 and 2023, telcos were installing 15,000–20,000 sites monthly, occasionally exceeding this pace. The latest October count of 4,60,592 represents significant growth from the previous year’s 3,08,466. Uttar Pradesh leads with 51,896 5G BTS, according to the Department of Telecommunications data.

Data Centers and 5G Expansion Fueling Fiber Cable Boom

Though rollout speed has slowed, expansion will continue, especially as Vodafone Idea (Vi) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) join the 5G deployment.

Bharatnet

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