With 100,000 4G towers, BSNL’s indigenous 4G rollout is transforming India’s telecom landscape, enhancing service coverage, and paving the way for 5G readiness.
BSNL is set to enhance its network capabilities by deploying 100,000 indigenous 4G sites across India as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The state-run telecom operator has placed a purchase order for these locally developed 4G stacks, with equipment delivery beginning in September 2023. By mid-January 2026, BSNL had successfully installed 97,672 4G sites, of which 95,511 were operational.
In Andhra Pradesh, BSNL has made significant progress, with 6108 4G sites installed and 6,045 already in service as of January 15, 2026. The new 4G equipment is designed to be upgradable to 5G, ensuring that BSNL’s infrastructure can evolve with future technological advancements.
As part of its 4G rollout, BSNL is transitioning its 3G subscribers to 4G services. The upgrade is also leading to a shift in BSNL’s operations, with the telecom company no longer requiring annual maintenance contracts for 3G equipment from other manufacturers in areas where 4G services are available.
The ambitious plan of installing 4G towers is expected to boost its customer base, which grew from 88.6 million in March 2024 to 92.8 million by December 2025.
Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Union Minister of Communications and Development of the Northeastern Region, confirmed the details of this upgrade in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
