NEW DELHI
India has rolled out 5G services across all states and union territories, reaching nearly 99.9 per cent of districts, the government announced. Telecom service providers (TSPs) have installed 5.08 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) in both rural and urban areas as of October 31, contributing to faster connectivity and reduced call drops.
Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, informed the Rajya Sabha that over 31 lakh BTSs have been installed nationwide. The infrastructure expansion includes efforts to provide broadband in Gram Panchayats through the BharatNet project, mobile services in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, and coverage in Aspirational Districts. The government has also implemented the 4G Saturation scheme, streamlined Right of Way (RoW) permissions, and allowed installation of small cells on street furniture to improve connectivity in underserved regions.
Telecom infrastructure is being deployed by both private TSPs and state-led service providers, with sharing arrangements based on techno-commercial feasibility. The government emphasizes that collaboration between private and public providers ensures better coverage and resource optimization.
In preparation for 6G technology, the Centre’s Bharat 6G Alliance has established seven dedicated working groups to chart progress and roadmap development. Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stressed the need for alignment among technology, spectrum, devices, applications, and sustainability to scale innovations effectively. He also highlighted that spectrum policy will be central to India’s 6G strategy, noting ongoing spectrum refarming and further plans to support the next-generation network rollout.
The announcement signals a major leap in India’s digital infrastructure, strengthening connectivity across urban and rural areas while laying the groundwork for future 6G advancements.