New Delhi, Sep 28 (NationPress) India has achieved a significant milestone with the introduction of its very first fully indigenous 4G (5G-ready) network, alongside the installation of approximately 98,000 Swadeshi 4G towers, all leveraging homegrown technology, as announced in an official statement on Sunday.

The core infrastructure, crafted by C-DOT, combined with Tejas Networks’ Radio Access Network and integration by TCS, signifies a notable technological advancement and embodies the government’s dedication to Aatmanirbhar Bharat, as per the statement.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the prior dependence on foreign technology for telecom services such as 2G, 3G, and 4G, India has constructed this fully homegrown 4G stack from the ground up, showcasing resilience, swift innovation, and independence in the supply chain. This accomplishment positions India among just five nations able to deliver completely indigenous 4G services, thus reinforcing the swadeshi ethos, the statement highlighted.

BSNL’s cloud-native, 5G-ready 4G stack guarantees immediate connectivity while facilitating seamless upgrades, fostering domestic talent, and bolstering supply chains. Government initiatives like the Bharat 6G Alliance, 100 5G/6G labs, and the Telecom Technology Development Fund are further promoting research and innovation, paving the way towards Viksit Bharat 2047 and global digital technology leadership.

The sites and architecture are designed to be 5G ready, allowing for future upgrades without necessitating extensive replacement of the existing infrastructure.

Over 92,000 4G sites have been established nationwide, serving more than 22 million citizens. For two million users, this marks their inaugural venture into the digital realm. The network adeptly manages nearly four petabytes of data traffic daily with both efficiency and security.

This deployment epitomizes the Swadeshi spirit, transforming a concept into a growth engine that advocates for domestic production, nurtures indigenous skills, encourages community entrepreneurship, and embeds economic dignity into daily life.

BSNL’s indigenous 4G services are poised to benefit tribal regions, remote villages, and hilly terrains by providing access to quality digital services. This will empower children in rural areas to participate in online classes, enable farmers in remote locations to check crop prices, and facilitate telemedicine consultations for patients. Moreover, this initiative will significantly enhance secure communication for armed forces personnel through improved connectivity.

The fully indigenous 4G stack enables India to manage its telecom infrastructure independently, diminishing reliance on foreign technologies and bolstering national security, thereby reinforcing the country’s strategic autonomy and digital sovereignty in crucial communication networks.

Localized manufacturing and deployment are generating employment, fortifying supplier ecosystems, and cultivating a skilled domestic workforce capable of designing, testing, and maintaining advanced telecom systems. This not only adds to human capital but also ensures supply-chain independence in India’s telecom sector.

The fully indigenous 4G stack is not merely addressing India’s internal requirements but is also designed for export potential, with several nations already showing interest.

The entire 4G architecture was indigenously developed in just 22 months, a pace significantly swifter than that of comparable nations.

Confidence in domestic technology has enabled BSNL to record profitable quarters consecutively after 17 years of financial struggles. This turnaround reflects the trust citizens place in institutions that align with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The successful implementation of indigenous 4G technology and the expansion of 5G are accelerating digital connectivity and fortifying India’s telecom ecosystem for future advancements.

The 5G network has been rolled out across all 28 states and 8 UTs, evolving into one of the world’s fastest rollouts. By June 30, 2025, 4.86 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) have been installed by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) throughout the nation.

The swift rollout and local acceptance of 5G are laying the groundwork for India’s Bharat 6G Mission, positioning the country as a global leader in future telecom innovations. Currently, the development of 6G technology is underway internationally and is anticipated to be available by 2030.

On March 23, 2023, India’s 6G vision document, Bharat 6G Vision, was released, which envisions India as a key contributor in the design, development, and deployment of 6G technology by 2030, as per the statement.