PM Modi launches BSNL’s indigenously developed 4G stack, commissions 97,500 towers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) indigenously developed 4G stack today, putting India in the league of countries that build their own telecom equipment. The launch, coinciding with BSNL’s silver jubilee, also saw the commissioning of more than 97,500 mobile towers, including 92,600 4G sites, built at an investment of about ₹37,000 crore.

Officials said the cloud-based system is “future-ready” and can be upgraded to 5G without major changes. Globally, countries such as Denmark, Sweden, South Korea and China already have similar capabilities.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) earlier in the day, Modi described BSNL’s 4G rollout as a reflection of India’s journey “from dependence to confidence.” Responding to a post by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, he said the project not only connects over 92,000 sites and 22 million people, but also drives jobs, exports, and fiscal revival, while strengthening the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

He wrote: “Union Minister Shri @JM_Scindia highlights how @BSNLCorporate's 4G stack embodies the swadeshi spirit. With over 92,000 sites connecting 22 million Indians, it reflects India's journey from dependence to confidence, driving employment, exports, fiscal revival and advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”

According to the government, the expansion will bring over 26,700 previously unconnected villages, including 2,472 in Odisha, onto the telecom map, benefitting more than 20 lakh new subscribers. Many of these villages are in remote or border regions, or in areas affected by left-wing extremism. The network also includes India’s largest cluster of solar-powered telecom towers.

Modi also unveiled the 100% 4G saturation project under the Digital Bharat Nidhi scheme, which will cover nearly 30,000 villages under a mission-mode rollout. Officials called it a key milestone in the Digital India programme, aimed at bridging the digital divide and extending telecom access to underserved communities.