The expansion of 5G base transceiver stations (BTS) in India has significantly slowed down. Both Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have scaled back their capital expenditure on 5G rollout, shifting their focus towards network optimization. The sluggish pace of 5G BTS additions reflects a stagnating market, with limited consumer use cases driving adoption.
As of February 2025, the total number of 5G BTS in India stood at 4,69,792, a marginal increase from 4,67,620 at the end of January 2025. Comparatively, in February 2024, this number was 4,25,987, indicating a slow year-on-year growth.
Vodafone Idea to Drive Future 5G Expansion
With Jio and Airtel having largely completed their planned 5G BTS deployments, the focus now shifts to Vodafone Idea (Vi). Vi has recently initiated its 5G rollout and is gearing up for a more extensive expansion in key priority cities. In the coming months, Vi is expected to be the primary contributor to the growth of 5G BTS in India.
Jio Leads in 5G BTS Deployment
Reliance Jio has deployed the highest number of 5G BTS in India, mainly because of its standalone (SA) 5G architecture, which requires a separate infrastructure from 4G. In contrast, Airtel has implemented non-standalone (NSA) 5G, which integrates with its existing 4G network, allowing for a more cost-effective and BTS-efficient rollout.
Affordable 5G Phones Fuel Market Growth
Despite the slow network expansion, India’s 5G market continues to grow, driven by the increasing availability of budget-friendly 5G smartphones. More devices under ₹12,000 are entering the market, especially from Chinese brands and Samsung, making 5G accessible to a broader audience.
BSNL’s Potential Contribution to 5G Expansion
Apart from Vi, BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) is also expected to contribute to 5G BTS deployment in the near future, further expanding India’s 5G footprint.
