Government of India officially informed Parliament that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has successfully completed the installation of nearly one lakh (100,000) indigenous 4G sites across the country.
This milestone is a centerpiece of the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, making India one of the few nations—alongside the USA, Sweden, Finland, South Korea, and China—to possess an end-to-end homegrown telecom technology stack.
Rollout Status (as of March 14, 2026)
The nationwide deployment, executed by a consortium led by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has reached near-total coverage of its initial 1-lakh site target.
| Metric | Status / Data Point |
| Total Sites Installed | 97,906 |
| Sites Operational (On-Air) | 96,103 |
| Technology Stack | C-DoT (Core), Tejas Networks (Radio/Hardware), TCS (System Integrator). |
| 5G Readiness | All deployed equipment is 100% 5G-upgradable via software/tech shifts. |
| Spectrum Bands | Active on 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2500 MHz, and 3300 MHz. |
Financial and Strategic Support
The rollout is backed by a massive government intervention to revive the state-run telco and bridge the digital divide in rural India.
- Revival Packages: The government has approved three packages totaling approximately ₹3.22 lakh crore, focusing on capital infusion, debt restructuring, and spectrum allocation.
- Profitability: For the first time in nearly two decades, BSNL has reported operating profits consistently since FY 2020-21.
- Expanding Customer Base: Driven by the 4G expansion and recent private sector tariff hikes, BSNL’s user base has grown from 8.86 crore (March 2024) to 9.28 crore as of early 2026.
The “Next 1 Lakh” and 5G Roadmap
Even as BSNL nears the 1-lakh mark, the company is already planning the next phase of its evolution.
- Phase 2 Expansion: BSNL CMD Robert Ravi recently confirmed plans for an additional 30,000 sites in FY 2026-27 to strengthen coverage in underserved and border areas.
- 5G Transition: With the 4G network now stabilizing, BSNL is preparing for a commercial 5G launch later in 2026. Testing has already been completed at key locations in New Delhi, including Nehru Place and Chanakyapuri.
- Rural Saturation: BSNL is the lead agency for the ₹1.39 lakh crore BharatNet program, which aims to provide 1.5 crore high-speed fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections across Indian villages.
The “Saturation” Focus
A significant portion of these new sites falls under the 4G Saturation Scheme, which specifically targets nearly 25,000 villages that previously had zero mobile connectivity. By using indigenous technology, the government aims to ensure that strategic and remote border outposts are not dependent on foreign telecom equipment.
