BSNL to Transition to 5G Network by June 2025, Says Telecom Minister: Report

State-run telecom company BSNL is set to complete its rollout of indigenously developed 4G technology through 100,000 base stations by May 2025. The company plans to transition to a 5G network by June 2025, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Monday. While speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, Scindia said that India followed the world in 4G, marched with the world in 5G, and will lead the world in 6G technology, according to a PTI report.

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India’s Rapid 5G Deployment

Scindia highlighted that BSNL is using technology developed by a consortium of C-DOT and TCS, emphasising the government’s commitment to self-reliance in telecom infrastructure.

“We now have a core and a radio access network that are fully functional. We have a plan for 100,000 sites by April-May of next year. We’ve rolled out 38,300 sites as of yesterday. We are going to roll out our own 4G network, which will switch to 5G by June 2025. We will be the sixth country in the world to achieve that,” the report cited Scindia as saying.

India has achieved the fastest 5G rollout globally, installing 450,000 towers within 22 months and providing coverage for 80 percent of the population.

Scindia noted that there has been a complete transformation in the Indian telecom sector, with the number of broadband connections rising multifold to 940 million from around 60 million 10 years ago.