Will PM Modi’s 4G Initiative Transform Remote Gujarat Villages?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Over 92,000 indigenous 4G towers launched nationwide.
- Significant boost for remote tribal and hilly areas.
- More than 11,000 villages in Gujarat to benefit directly.
- Initiative aligns with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- Strengthens digital connectivity and access to services.
Gandhinagar, Sep 27 (NationPress) On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated BSNL’s homegrown 4G network from Jharsuguda, Odisha. This significant rollout, celebrated alongside BSNL’s silver jubilee, activates over 92,000 indigenous 4G towers across the nation, including 4,000 in Gujarat, with over 600 towers dedicated to serving the isolated tribal and mountainous areas.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who participated in the national launch virtually from Gandhinagar’s Mahatma Mandir alongside Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, praised this initiative as a festive gift for the nation during Navratri and Diwali.
“As our country honors the worship of Adi Shakti, the Prime Minister has presented the public with an indigenous 4G network, representing Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he stated.
Patel emphasized the larger vision, noting that India has transitioned from merely being a telecom market to evolving into a global solution provider. “Today, it is not only ‘Made in India for India’ but Made in India, Made for the World,” he observed, highlighting that more than 11,000 villages in Gujarat will directly gain from the new towers.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya characterized the launch as “a point of national pride” and a tangible step towards realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of self-sufficiency. He drew comparisons with India's vaccine success during the pandemic, illustrating how indigenous technology can rise to meet global challenges.
Officials indicated that with this launch, India joins the elite group of nations possessing their own domestic 4G telecom network. The initiative, themed ‘Gaurav se kaho, ye swadeshi hai’ (Say with pride, this is indigenous), saw participation from numerous state chief ministers, telecom industry leaders, and citizens from villages across Gujarat.
As BSNL marks its 25th anniversary, the 4G saturation project – covering 97,500 new sites nationwide – is perceived as a watershed moment in India’s digital connectivity, bolstering e-governance, education, healthcare, and digital commerce in rural and underprivileged regions.