Did India's Telecom Sector Achieve Rs 96,240 Crore in Sales and 99.9% 5G Coverage in 2025?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 5G services now cover 99.9% of India’s districts.
- The telecom sector generated Rs 96,240 crore in sales.
- Around 30,000 jobs were created.
- Average monthly data consumption reached 24.01 GB.
- India developed its own indigenous 4G stack upgradeable to 5G.
New Delhi, Dec 19 (NationPress) The telecom industry in India experienced significant advancements in 2025, witnessing the rollout of 5G services across all States and Union Territories. This expansion resulted in 99.9 percent coverage of the country’s districts, as reported by the Ministry of Communications on Friday.
The government’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) initiative has been instrumental in generating Rs 96,240 crore in sales, alongside Rs 19,240 crore in exports and the creation of approximately 30,000 jobs, according to the ministry.
According to the Department of Telecommunications, the year 2025 marked a pivotal transformation in the Indian telecom landscape. This shift was propelled by the rapid expansion of 5G technology, enhanced digital infrastructure, and a firm commitment to self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
With an estimated population coverage of 85 percent, 5G services have become extensively accessible, owing to the establishment of over 5.08 lakh 5G base transceiver stations nationwide.
The DoT highlighted that the growth of telecom has been closely linked to improved connectivity, with overall tele-density climbing to 86.65 percent by September 2025, a rise from 75.23 percent in 2014. Rural telephone connections surged by nearly 43 percent, significantly outpacing urban growth.
Internet connectivity also soared, surpassing 100 crore connections compared to just over 25 crore a decade earlier.
Broadband adoption witnessed a remarkable increase, jumping from 6.1 crore connections in 2014 to nearly 100 crore in 2025.
Meanwhile, average monthly data usage per wireless user skyrocketed to 24.01 GB, positioning India among the top data-consuming countries globally.
Mobile broadband speeds saw substantial improvements, reflecting the benefits of the fibre expansion and the rollout of 5G.
A key highlight of the year was the success of the telecom PLI scheme. Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, domestic manufacturing achieved remarkable sales of Rs 96,240 crore, with exports valued at Rs 19,240 crore, generating approximately 30,000 jobs.
Additionally, India became the fifth nation globally to develop its own indigenous 4G stack, which is upgradeable to 5G.
The DoT emphasized that citizen protection and security were top priorities throughout the year.
Initiatives like Sanchar Saathi and the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator were instrumental in curbing telecom-related fraud, safeguarding citizens from financial losses.
Banks and payment platforms identified over 70 lakh suspicious transactions, successfully averting losses amounting to approximately Rs 450 crore.