State-run telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will upgrade its entire 4G network to 5G within the next six to eight months, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced at the Kautilya Economic Conclave.
This move marks a major step in India’s goal to build a self-reliant telecom ecosystem.
The minister said that 92,500 BSNL 4G towers, launched on September 27, are powered entirely by indigenous software and hardware.
“The easy option was to buy foreign equipment, but we chose the harder path of creating our own 4G stack.
In just 22 months, we developed both our core software and radio access network (RAN),” Scindia stated.
BSNL’s Remarkable Comeback
Celebrating 25 years of service, BSNL has achieved a strong financial recovery.
The company’s operating profit jumped to ₹5,000 crore this financial year, more than double last year’s ₹2,300 crore.
Its subscriber base also increased from 8.7 crore to 9.1 crore, now serving over 22 million customers across the country.
The upcoming 5G rollout is expected to further enhance BSNL’s position in the telecom market by offering faster connectivity and strengthening India’s digital infrastructure.
Focus on AI and Digital Growth
Scindia also announced that the government is working on a Digital Consumer Charter to promote the ethical and fair use of artificial intelligence (AI).
He expressed confidence that India will soon be among the top five AI-powered nations, driven by its innovation and resilience.
“India is not just another option in uncertain times — it is the destination for growth and innovation,” Scindia said, inviting global investors to join India’s expanding digital journey.
With BSNL’s rapid 5G expansion and the government’s AI-driven initiatives, India is positioning itself as a global leader in telecom and technology.
