Summary:
The government said India’s 5G expansion has reached 562,971 base stations, extending coverage to 99.9% of districts by June 2026. Nearly 24,000 telecom towers have also been deployed under the 4G Saturation Project to connect previously uncovered villages. Additionally, 136 telecom R&D projects worth about ₹5.43 billion have been approved under the TTDF, focusing on technologies such as 6G, quantum communications, satellite networks, and cybersecurity. The government is also advancing its Bharat 6G Vision and a ₹121.95 billion PLI scheme to strengthen domestic telecom manufacturing and next-generation connectivity.
Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said India’s 5G rollout has accelerated rapidly, with the number of 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) increasing from 140,623 on March 31, 2023, to 562,971 by June 30, 2026. As a result, 5G services are now accessible in 99.9% of the country’s districts.
To improve mobile connectivity, the government has commissioned nearly 24,000 telecom towers under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN)-supported 4G Saturation Project and other connectivity programmes through June 2026. These initiatives are intended to bring 4G services to villages that previously lacked mobile network coverage.
In the area of telecom innovation, the government has approved 136 research and development projects under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) as of June 30, 2026, with total sanctioned funding of approximately ₹5.43 billion. The projects span advanced technology domains such as 6G, quantum communications, satellite and non-terrestrial networks, optical communication systems, indigenous 5G core technologies, and telecom cybersecurity.
The government also highlighted its long-term strategy for next-generation communications through the Bharat 6G Vision Document, released in March 2023, which aims to develop and deploy secure, intelligent, and universally accessible 6G technologies while positioning India as a global leader in the field. Additionally, the Department of Telecommunications has introduced a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme with an outlay of ₹121.95 billion to encourage domestic manufacturing of telecom and networking equipment by supporting incremental investment and production.
