PM Modi inaugurates BSNL's fully indigenous Swadeshi 4G (5G ready) network with 97500 towers from Odisha, placing India among elite nations with homegrown telecom technology stack.
PM Modi Launches BSNL's Indigenous 'Swadeshi' 4G Network, Commissioning 97,500 Towers to Transform Rural Connectivity
On September 27, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a ground-breaking 4G network under the Swadeshi brand by BSNL in the Odisha district of Jharsuguda, which was the first in Indian history, and it placed India among those few countries that could produce an entire system of indigenous telecommunications. The installation of the 97,500 plus mobile towers at a cost of ₹ 37,000 crore is the greatest homegrown 4G infrastructure rollout in the telecommunication history of the country.
The project under discussion, which originated on the silver jubilee of BSNL, will have India among Denmark, Sweden, South Korea, and China in the desirable league of countries that design and produce their own detailed 4G telecom stacks. Modi ordered over 97,500 mobile 4G towers, 92,600 4G technology stations of the telecommunication service provider and the tower was constructed at an approximate cost of ₹ 37, 000 crore.
India towards Telecom Self-Reliance.
The telecommunications industry in India had been heavily dependent on imported technology and equipment, which has exposed the supply chains to vulnerability and brought up the issue of data sovereignty. Swadeshi 4G is a paradigm shift, where local production capabilities are taken into consideration to solve strategic security issues, and local technological innovation is enhanced.
BSNL is also rolling out 4G based on the countrywide network on an indigenous 4G/5G stack that is being developed by TCS and C-DoT led consortium. This is a completely indigenous technology stack developed by a consortium of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Centre of Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and Tejas Networks that is a result of years of research and development in telecommunications technology.
The state-owned telecom company has been going through an extensive rejuvenation package assured by the Indian government with a heavy capital inflow geared towards the modernization of their infrastructure and rural connectivity.
Mega-infrastructure Projects
The Jharsuguda launch was used to also open telecommunications infrastructure in several states simultaneously, showing how large and coordinated was the national rollout. The project is expected to reach out to more than 26,700 villages and officials believe that the project will cover 2,472 villages in Odisha alone, (out of a total of 26,700 villages), and that over 2 million people will be served.
The infrastructure implementation involves those towers owned by BSNL and those owned through Digital Bharat Nidhi program. The Digital Bharat Nidhi program is expected to connect the hitherto under-serviced regions to more than 18,900 sites. The technology is also future-proof and has the potential to be entirely cloud-based and can upgrade to 5G networks when necessary.
The launch date corresponds to the silver jubilee of BSNL, so it becomes a memorable moment in the history of India oldest telecommunications service provider. This advantage of indigenous technology has enabled the company to place itself strategically to compete with other private operators such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea.
Technical Specifications and Capabilities
BSNL 4G Technology Comparison with Other Company
| Feature | BSNL Swadeshi 4G | Private Networks | International 4G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tech Origin | 100% Indigenous India | Foreign Tech EU/Asia | Multi-vendor global |
| Core Stack | TCS-C-DOT-Tejas | Ericsson Nokia Samsung | Multiple vendors |
| Architecture | Cloud-native virtualized | Mix legacy & modern | Varies by operator |
| 5G Upgrade | Seamless software | Hardware replacement | Vendor dependent |
| Data Control | Complete national | Vendor-dependent | Varies by country |
| Supply Chain | Domestic manufacturing | Import-dependent | Global dependencies |
| Scale | 97,500+ towers ₹37k Cr | Varied investments | Country-specific |
| Rural Focus | 26,700+ villages | Urban/semi-urban | Market dependent |
| Costs | Lower OPEX no imports | Higher import costs | Varies locally |
| Custom | India-specific features | Global + local adapt | Standard global |
| Advantage | Tech sovereignty export | Fast deploy proven | Established ecosystem |
BSNL 4G Deployment Statistics
| Metric | Numbers | Coverage Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Total 4G Towers | 97,500+ | Pan-India Coverage |
| Indigenous Tech Sites | 92,600+ | 95% of New Infrastructure |
| Investment | ₹37,000 Crore | Largest Indigenous Telecom Project |
| Villages Connected | 26,700+ | Rural Digital Inclusion |
| Odisha Coverage | 2,472 Villages | State-specific Expansion |
| Expected Users | 2+ Million | Direct Connectivity Beneficiaries |
| Technology Partners | TCS, C-DOT, Tejas Networks | Multi-stakeholder Consortium |
Leadership Vision
During the launch event, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the more recent role of India as a global manufacturing hub of telecommunications. The development was reported to make the country one of the few countries that produce telecom equipment, which PM Modi remarked is critical in terms of strategic significance of attaining technological independence in vital areas of infrastructure.
Communications Minister in the union, Jyotiraditya Scindia detailed the scope and the effects of the project. According to him, 97,500 mobile 4G towers will be commissioned and that more than 92,600 mobile sites will be commissioned by BSNL using 5G upgradable, indigenised 4G technology. He termed this as a fully-indigenous 4G tech-stack which is a reflection of the Indian technological capacity.
Scindia asserted that it is the time of India to shine as a Product Nation; indigenous telecommunications technology can provide significant changes to the digital economy aspirations of the country.
Top government officials, telecommunication industry players and technology partners who have helped in the development of the indigenous 4G stack were present during the launch event. Their co-existence highlighted the co-operative element of this national telecommunications project.
Rural to Rural Connectedness
The rollout of BSNL Swadeshi 4G network fills the important connectivity gaps in rural and remote locations that have traditionally been under serviced by the private telecommunications companies. The implementation will enhance digital connectivity, citizen engagement, and rural communication networks, which are direct benefits of the Digital India programs of the government.
The economic factor is not limited to direct improvements in connectivity. India becomes less reliant on external suppliers of equipment by creating indigenous technologies to support telecommunication; this could save billions of foreign exchange and provide high-tech areas of employment in the country.
Security wise, the homegrown technology stack offers greater control over vital telecommunications infrastructure, a long-standing concern regarding the possibility of vulnerabilities of imported equipment. This is in line with international trends on telecommunications sovereignty where nations are looking to have more control of their digital infrastructure.
The effect of the project on the financial sustainability of BSNL can be considered tremendous with the company registering quarterly market returns and massive subscriber expansion. This reversal is evidence that state-owned businesses can also become competitive provided that they are equipped with relevant technologies and investment policies.
The decision to launch it in Odisha indicates the orientation of the government to build telecommunications infrastructure in the eastern parts of India. The project will cover 2,472 villages in Odisha alone, which means that the region will have a significant development due to enhanced connectivity.
The rural nature of the deployment tackles the digital divide which has in the past undermined economic opportunities in the remote contexts. The improved 4G connectivity opens the doors to digital services, e-commerce sites, learning and telemedicine services that were once inaccessible or not dependable within these areas.
Strategic Implications: International Telecom Manufacturing Center
The Indian move into the exclusive club of countries producing full sets of 4G technology is a strategic change in the dynamics of telecommunications in the world arena. India is formally an exclusive club of only five countries that have officially designed and produced their own complete 4G telecom technology stack, along with Denmark, Sweden, South Korea and China.
This success makes India a prospective telecommunications technology exporter that opens equipment and services export prospects to other developing countries in need of alternatives to traditional suppliers. The government Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative in key technology areas also has the backing of the indigenous technology development.
The successful implementation shows that India is able to do complex systems integration which is a combination of hardware manufacturing, software development and network deployment skills. This combined solution brings the benefit of a competitive edge in the new telecommunications technology development, such as 5G and others.
Landscape Transformation Competitive
The introduction of the BSNL native 4G network puts some new dynamics in the already competitive telecommunication industry in India. Although the investment and deployment of 4G infrastructure by the private players have been high on imported technology, the homegrown strategy by BSNL has the prospects of providing cost benefits and strategic flexibility.
The 5G-enabled nature of the native stack is putting BSNL in a good position to upgrade its network later, potentially leading to a lower capital cost to implement next-generation technology. This technical edge may be significant in the process of India being ready to implement 5G in many different industries.
The Technology Partnership Ecosystem.
The Swadeshi 4G technology developed by BSNL is an example of effective cooperation between government telecommunications agencies, technology firms, and research institutions of the public sector. BSNL has a fully native Bharat Telecom Stack designed and installed by a consortium of Tata Consultancy Services, C-DOT and Tejas Networks.
This type of partnership has shown what can be done by utilizing both the research capabilities and execution capabilities of the private sector to meet the complex technological goals of the public sector. The effectiveness of this partnership gives a blueprint of future indigenous technology development projects in other sectors.
The Centre of Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has been instrumental in the development of core technology architecture based on decades of research on telecommunications systems. The software development and systems integration skills were brought on by Tata Consultancy Services and hardware manufacturing skills were brought on board by Tejas Networks.
Neighborhood Digitization
The vast rural coverage of indigenous 4G network infrastructure is directly aligned with the goals of digital transformation in India especially in the sectors of agriculture, education, and health. Increased connectivity allows farmers to be able to access real-time market data, weather, and agricultural advisory services that can support increased productivity and income.
Rural schools are able to enjoy a better internet connection, which means that they can have access to online learning facilities, digital classrooms, and be able to teach remotely. This is the technological infrastructure that the National Education Policy focuses on digital learning and education equity.
Telemedicine access can provide healthcare services in remote areas with the ability to consult specialists, remote diagnostics, and health monitoring services, which were not available in the past. This connectivity infrastructure is necessary because the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the exceptional significance of digital health services to the resilience of public health.
Economic Development Impact
The implementation of indigenous 4G technology has multiplier effects on the different sectors of the economy. The creation of local telecommunications equipment provides jobs in the high-technology industries, and the build-up of local capabilities lowers the long-term operating expenses of the network operators.
Enhanced connectivity to rural areas means that small and medium enterprises can access digital payment systems, e-commerce platforms and online business services which increase market accessibility and operational efficiency. This online empowerment assists in entrepreneurship and economic diversification among the rural areas.
The fact that the project was focusing on the development of indigenous technology enhances the presence of India in the world telecommunications supply chains, which may lure foreign investment in telecommunications manufacturing and research centers. This development in technological capabilities underpins the Production Linked Incentive schemes of telecommunications equipment production by the government.
5G Evolution and Future Expansion
The successful implementation of indigenous 4G technology forms a base through which it can progress to the development of 5G networks through homegrown capabilities. The 4G technology is indigenised, meaning it can be upgraded to 5G, which means that it has been strategized to evolve the network in the future without the need to overhaul the whole infrastructure.
The management of BSNL has announced that it has intentions to continue with its expansion, and more tower installations will be implemented in under-served areas. The enhanced financial performance of the company furnishes resources of long-term infrastructure investment and development of technology.
The fact that the government remains supportive of indigenous telecommunications technology development has an implication of potential expansion of the Swadeshi approach to other network technologies, such as satellite communications, fiber optic systems, and emerging technologies such as 6G research and development.
Export Opportunities in other countries
With India building knowledge in local telecommunications technology, there is a possibility of exporting equipment and services to other developing countries who are required to find an alternative to traditional suppliers. Technical features and cost-effectiveness shown in the national implementation may be of interest to the foreign markets.
The success of the BSNL implementation offers credibility to Indian telecommunications technology in the international markets possibly culminating into collaborations with other nations that want to establish indigenous telecommunications. This is the export potential, which underpins the Indian macro technology diplomacy and economic development agenda.
The Indian Telecommunications – A New Era
The introduction of BSNL Swadeshi 4G network is not just a telecommunications infrastructure project; it symbolizes the rise of India as a huge force in the development and production of telecommunications technology in the world. All UPI payments, all emergency calls and all distance courses in a remote village rely on telecom networks and this reliance rendered India efficient but vulnerable to supply chain shocks, trade conflicts and spyware threats. That changes now.
The success of the project proves that it is possible to integrate strategic outlook, technological development and implemented action to meet complex national goals. It is the native 4G technology stack that makes India still a leader in telecommunications innovation and to the extent of meeting urgent connectivity needs of rural and underserved communities.
Swadeshi 4G network offers the much-needed base of infrastructure to enhance economic growth, social cohesion, and indigenous technology as India keeps on rolling the digital transformation train. The project forms a base on which the further development of telecommunications building is possible, and indicates that the country is prepared to develop and implement indigenous technologies.
The partnership between the government agencies, research institutions and private companies in coming up with this indigenous technology serves as an example in future innovation processes in other key technology areas. This feat strengthens India as a technology hub in the world, as well as provide local solutions to local connectivity and security needs.
VISIT OFFICIAL BSNL WEBSITE: [CLICK HERE]
You can also visit our extensive coverage of Technology related articles to understand in greater detail by Clicking Here
Also Check: iQOO 15 India Launch Confirmed: Price, Specs & Release Date 2025
Oppo A6 Pro 5G specifications: 7,000mAh, IP69, Dimensity 6300 & Launch Date KNOW HERE!
Xiaomi 17 Series Launched in China With Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 1TB Storage, What You need to Know
0 Comments