In a major boost to India’s telecommunications infrastructure, the Prime Minister inaugurated BSNL’s indigenously developed ‘Swadeshi’ 4G stack, marking the country’s entry into a select group of nations that manufacture homegrown telecom equipment.

The core network, developed by C-DOT, with Tejas Networks’ Radio Access Network and integration by TCS, exemplifies a major technological breakthrough and the realization of the Government’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat., including , built at a cost of aroundCommissioning of 97,500 new 4G mobile towers, including 92,600 sites powered by indigenous technology, built at a cost of around ₹37,000 crore.Towers are solar-powered, forming the largest green telecom cluster in India.The cloud-based, future-ready network can seamlessly upgrade to 5G, placing India alongside countries such as Denmark, Sweden, China, and South Korea in telecom manufacturing capability.The rollout is being seen as a transformative step under the Digital India vision, bridging the digital divide, empowering rural communities, and laying the groundwork for BSNL’s 5G upgrade and integration.Over 26,700 unconnected villages, including 2,472 of Odisha, in remote, border, and left-wing extremism-affected areas will receive connection with this launch.Launch of the 100% 4G saturation network under the Digital Bharat Nidhi, which will connect an additional 29,000–30,000 villages in a mission-mode project.

Features of 4G stack

¨     End-to-end indigenous stack:The indigenous 4G stack integrates Radio Access Network (Tejas), Core Network (C-DOT), and domestic integration, reducing foreign dependence and boosting local capability.

¨     Software-first/ cloud native:It is cloud-native and software-driven, enabling fast upgrades, scalability, and smooth migration to 5G.

¨     Future proofing:The infrastructure is 5G-ready, allowing upgrades without replacing existing equipment, ensuring cost-effective future-proofing.

Benefits of the indigenous 4G Stack

¨     Strategic Autonomy and Digital Sovereignty: India’s fully indigenous 4G stack gives the nation control over its telecom infrastructure, cuts foreign dependence, and enhances national security.

¨     Employment generation and supply-chain development:India’s indigenous 4G stack supports local manufacturing and deployment, creating jobs, strengthening supplier networks, and building a skilled workforce.

¨     Catering to domestic demand with global potential:The fully indigenous 4G stack is not only meeting India’s internal requirements but is also designed with export potential, with several countries having already expressed interest.

¨     Rapid development through indigenous capability:The entire 4G architecture was indigenously built in just 22 months, a pace significantly faster than comparable nations.

¨     Realisation of the Swadeshi principle:The deployment reflects the Swadeshi ethos, transforming an idea into a growth engine that promotes domestic production, cultivates indigenous skills, inspires community enterprise, and embeds economic dignity into everyday life.

5G Rollout & Bharat 6G Vision

¨     5G services launched in October 2022, now available in all 28 states and 8 Union Territories, covering nearly all districts nationwide.

¨     By June 30, 2025, telecom providers installed 4.86 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) across the country.

¨     India’s 5G rollout is among the fastest globally, significantly expanding coverage and user access.

¨     India’s swift 5G rollout and widespread adoption are creating a strong foundation for the Bharat 6G Mission, positioning the country as a global leader in next-generation telecom innovation.

¨     India released the “Bharat 6G Vision” on March 23, 2023, aiming to make the country a leading player in 6G design, development, and deployment by 2030, guided by affordability, sustainability, and universality.

Uses of 5G

¨     Agriculture: This enables precision farming using IoT sensors, drones, and AI for better productivity and resource use.

¨     Healthcare: It supports telemedicine, remote diagnostics, and real-time health monitoring, improving rural healthcare access.

¨     Manufacturing & Industry 4.0: It facilitates automation, robotics, and smart factories with reliable, low-latency connectivity.

¨     Smart Cities: This powers intelligent traffic management, energy-efficient infrastructure, safety, and environmental monitoring.

¨     Automotive & Transport: It enables connected/autonomous vehicles, real-time traffic updates, and safer roads.

¨     Entertainment & Media: It provides high-definition streaming, immersive gaming, and interactive media experiences.