Powering India’s digital leap, BSNL prepares to shift from 4G to 5G within six to eight months, marking a milestone in the nation’s quest for telecom self-reliance.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will upgrade all its 4G towers to 5G within the next six to eight months, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced recently.
At the fourth Kautilya Economic Conclave, the minister noted that the move marks a key milestone in India’s goal of building a self-reliant telecom ecosystem.
Scindia said BSNL’s indigenously developed 4G stack, created by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), Tejas Networks, and Tata Consultancy Services, has placed India among only five nations capable of delivering a complete homegrown telecom solution.
He highlighted that BSNL chose the more challenging path by developing its own technology rather than purchasing equipment from the four global telecom vendors. In just 22 months, a core software and radio access network, with TCS serving as the system integrator, Scindia noted.
So far, 92,564 BSNL towers have been commissioned across India, all of which were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week. Scindia said India now leads the world in 5G rollout speed, with coverage spanning 99.8% of districts.
BSNL’s financial health has also improved significantly. The state-run operator reported an operating profit of ₹53.96 billion this fiscal, more than double the previous year’s ₹21.64 billion. The company has also recorded two consecutive profitable quarters, with its subscriber base rising from 87 million to 91 million.
The minister emphasised that India’s next phase of growth must be powered by Atmanirbhar innovation rather than imitation. He urged the development of artificial intelligence solutions tailored to India’s diverse linguistic and social landscape, citing the government’s Bhashini app as a model for inclusive technology.
Scindia concluded that India remains resilient amid global challenges, projecting that the nation will become the world’s third-largest economy by 2027 and the second-largest by 2038.
