BSNL to Launch 5G by June 2025, Says Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia

BSNL, India’s state-run telecom company, will finish rolling out its own 4G network with 1 lakh base stations by May 2025 and will then switch to 5G by June 2025, according to Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. He shared this information while speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

Scindia highlighted that India has caught up with the world in 4G, is advancing with 5G, and aims to lead in 6G technology. He emphasized that BSNL will use only domestically developed equipment, stating, “The Prime Minister is very clear that we will not use anyone else’s equipment.”

As of now, BSNL has already set up 38,300 sites and plans to reach 1 lakh sites by April-May next year. The 4G technology being used is developed by a collaboration between the state-run C-DOT and the domestic IT company TCS.

The minister noted that India has achieved the fastest 5G rollout globally, with 4.5 lakh towers installed in just 22 months, covering 80% of the population. He also pointed out significant changes in the telecom sector over the last decade, such as the rise in broadband connections from 60 million to 940 million and the drastic drop in voice call costs from 50 paise to just 3 paise.

Scindia emphasized that the focus should be on providing quality service rather than merely building infrastructure. He also discussed the growing strategic partnership between India and the US, mentioning a landmark agreement to establish a chip plant in India, which will supply chips for defense in the US, benefiting both nations.