INDIA’S TELECOM SECTOR RECORDS MAJOR DIGITAL EXPANSION

IN NEWS: INDIA’S TELECOM SECTOR RECORDS MAJOR DIGITAL EXPANSION

India’s telecom sector witnessed significant expansion in 2025, with rapid growth in 5G rollout, broadband penetration, rural connectivity and indigenous telecom technology development, according to a year-end review released by the Ministry of Communications.The developments highlight India’s growing position as one of the world’s largest digital connectivity ecosystems and reflect the broader objective of achieving a technologically advanced “Viksit Bharat 2047”.

Expansion of 5G Connectivity

One of the most significant achievements highlighted in the review was the nationwide expansion of 5G services.According to the report:

• 5G services became available across:
  • All States
  • Union Territories
• Coverage extended to:
  • 99.9% of districts
  • Around 85% of India’s population

Telecom operators installed more than 5.08 lakh 5G base stations, indicating rapid infrastructure deployment.The expansion was further supported by a substantial increase in optical fibre cable networks since 2019.

Growth in Broadband and Internet Usage

India also witnessed a major increase in internet and broadband penetration:

• Total internet connections crossed the 100-crore mark
• Broadband subscriptions approached 100 crore
• Average monthly wireless data consumption rose to 24 GB per user
• Median mobile broadband speed crossed 130 Mbps by October 2025

The data reflects India’s emergence as one of the world’s highest data-consuming countries.

Rural Connectivity and Digital Inclusion

The report highlighted rapid progress in rural telecom penetration.Key developments include:

• Rural telephone connections increased by nearly 43% since 2014
• Overall tele-density reached 86.65%
• Expansion of broadband access to:
  • Villages
  • Schools
  • Health centres
  • Other public institutions

This growth aligns with the government’s emphasis on digital inclusion and reduction of the rural-urban digital divide.

National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0

An important initiative mentioned in the review is the launch of National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0 in January.The initiative aims to:

• Expand high-speed broadband infrastructure
• Improve digital accessibility
• Support digital governance and service delivery
• Accelerate nationwide fibre connectivity

The mission is expected to support long-term economic and technological transformation.

Indigenous Telecom Technology Development

India achieved a technological milestone by becoming the world’s fifth country to develop an indigenous 4G technology stack.The stack was:

• Developed by:
  • C-DOT
  • Tejas Networks
  • TCS
• Deployed by:
  • BSNL

The system is software-driven and upgradeable to 5G.This development is strategically important for:

• Technological self-reliance
• Telecom security
• Indigenous innovation ecosystem
• Reduction in external dependence

Bharat 6G Mission

The review also highlighted progress under the Bharat 6G Mission, indicating India’s preparations for next-generation telecom technologies.This aligns with India’s broader ambition to participate in global telecom standard-setting and future communication technologies.

Citizen-Centric Digital Platforms

Digital public service platforms also expanded significantly.The report highlighted:

• Sanchar Saathiportal recorded:
  • 22 crore visits
• Mobile app downloads exceeded:
  • 1.5 crore
• Financial Fraud Risk Indicator helped prevent losses worth approximately:
  • ₹450 crore
• More than:
  • 70 lakh suspicious transactions were flagged

This demonstrates the increasing integration of telecom infrastructure with digital governance and cyber fraud prevention.

Telecom Manufacturing and PLI Scheme

The telecom Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme also recorded strong growth.According to the review:

• Cumulative telecom manufacturing sales crossed:
  • ₹96,000 crore
• Exports exceeded:
  • ₹19,000 crore

The sector’s expansion reflects India’s effort to emerge as a global digital manufacturing and innovation hub.

NECESSARY STATIC PART

Department of Telecommunications (DoT)

• Ministry: Ministry of Communications
• Functions:
  • Telecom policy formulation
  • Spectrum management
  • Telecom infrastructure development
  • Digital connectivity expansion

National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0

• Launched: January 2025
• Objective:
  • Expand broadband access and fibre infrastructure
  • Promote digital inclusion

C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics)

• Established: 1984
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Functions:
  • Telecom technology research and development
  • Indigenous telecom innovation

Bharat 6G Mission

• Objective:
  • Develop India’s capabilities in next-generation telecom technologies
  • Promote indigenous telecom research and standards participation

Sanchar Saathi Platform

• Purpose:
  • Citizen-centric telecom security services
  • Fraud prevention
  • Mobile device security

Updated – 20 December 2025 ; 01:40 PM IST News Source – Times of India