Beyond India’s earlier dependence on foreign-supported 2G, 3G, and 4G services, India developed 4G and 5G with the Atmanirbhar spirit. Research and innovation supported by the Telecom Technology Development Fund will solidify India’s swadeshi position in 5G and 6G.
India has launched its first fully indigenous 4G (5G-ready) network and the commissioning of nearly 98,000 Swadeshi 4G towers, all powered by homegrown technology. The core network, created by C-DOT and integrated with Tejas Networks’ Radio Access Network by TCS, showcases a significant technological advancement embodying the spirit of Atmanirbhar.
Previously reliant on foreign technology for telecom services such as 2G, 3G, and 4G, India took decisive action during the Covid-19 pandemic by developing a completely indigenous 4G stack from the ground up, showcasing resilience, rapid innovation, and supply chain independence. This achievement has positioned India among five nations capable of launching fully homegrown 4G services, thereby reinforcing the spirit of ‘swadeshi’. BSNL’s cloud-native, 5G-ready 4G stack ensures immediate connectivity while enabling seamless upgrades, nurturing domestic talent, and strengthening supply chains. Complementary government initiatives, including the Bharat 6G Alliance, 100 5G/6G labs, and the Telecom Technology Development Fund, are advancing research and innovation, charting a path toward Viksit Bharat 2047 and global leadership in digital technology.
The successful deployment of indigenous 4G technology and the expansion of 5G will accelerate digital connectivity, strengthening India’s telecom ecosystem for future advancements. India launched 5G services on 1st Oct 2022. Within eight months, 2,00,000 sites covering 700 districts were established, and subsequently, 5G networks were rolled out in all 28 states and eight UTs. India experienced one of the fastest 5G rollouts in the world. As of now, Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have installed nearly half a million 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs). The launch of 5G has benefited various sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, education, manufacturing, smart cities, automotive, transportation, media, and entertainment.
