India has achieved a historic milestone in digital sovereignty with the successful launch of its first fully indigenous, 5G-ready 4G network. This monumental effort, commissioned with nearly 98,000 Swadeshi 4G towers, is entirely powered by homegrown technology and reinforces the nation’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The fully indigenous 4G stack was developed and deployed in a record time of just 22 months, a pace significantly faster than comparable global efforts. This achievement places India among only five nations globally capable of launching fully homegrown 4G services. The key domestic players behind this technological breakthrough are:
- Core Network: Developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).
- Radio Access Network (RAN): Provided by Tejas Networks.
- System Integration: Handled by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
This cloud-native, 5G-ready architecture is designed for immediate high-speed connectivity while ensuring seamless upgrades without replacing large parts of the deployed infrastructure.
The deployment has resulted in the commissioning of more than 92,000 4G sites across the country, directly connecting over 22 million citizens. Crucially, this rollout marks the first entry into the digital era for two million users, demonstrating a powerful commitment to digital inclusion. The network is currently managing nearly four petabytes of data traffic every day with efficiency and security.
The initiative embodies the Swadeshi ethos, transforming an idea into a massive growth engine with tangible benefits:
- Digital Empowerment: BSNL’s indigenous 4G services will especially benefit tribal regions, remote villages, and hilly areas, enabling critical services like online education, telemedicine consultations for patients, and access to crop prices for farmers.
- National Security & Sovereignty: Full control over the telecom infrastructure reduces reliance on foreign technologies, significantly enhancing national security and strengthening India’s strategic autonomy.
- Job Creation & Supply Chain: Localized manufacturing and deployment are generating employment, strengthening domestic supplier ecosystems, and nurturing a skilled workforce capable of designing and maintaining advanced telecom systems.
- Fiscal Turnaround: Confidence in this homegrown technology has enabled BSNL to record consecutive profitable quarters after 17 years of financial strain.
This indigenous 4G success is foundational to India’s accelerated push into next-generation connectivity. The national 5G network rollout is already one of the fastest in the world, with 4.86 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) installed across all 28 states and 8 UTs as of June 30, 2025.
The rapid domestic adoption of 5G is laying the groundwork for the ambitious Bharat 6G Mission. The “Bharat 6G Vision” document, released on March 23, 2023, envisages India becoming a frontline contributor in the design, development, and deployment of 6G technology by 2030. Furthermore, this fully indigenous 4G stack is not just for domestic needs; it is designed with export potential, with several countries having already expressed interest.
Key Highlights:
- Historic Milestone & Scale: India launched its first fully indigenous, 5G-ready 4G network, commissioning nearly 98,000 Swadeshi towers in just 22 months, making it one of five nations with a homegrown stack.
- Key Partners & Technology: The architecture, known for its security and 5G readiness, involves C-DOT (Core Network), Tejas Networks (RAN), and TCS (System Integration), connecting over 22 million citizens.
- National Security & Economic Impact: The project strongly supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat by ensuring digital sovereignty, creating jobs, bolstering domestic supply chains, and driving BSNL’s financial turnaround.
- Future-Proofing Connectivity: The success accelerates the 5G rollout and lays the foundation for India’s Bharat 6G Mission, with the indigenous stack also designed for international export.