PM Modi Inaugurates BSNL’s ‘Swadeshi’ 4G Network Boosting India’s Telecom Infrastructure

In a landmark development for the country’s telecommunication sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated BSNL’s ‘Swadeshi’ 4G stack on Saturday. The launch positions India among a select group of nations, including Denmark, Sweden, South Korea, and China, that manufacture their own telecom equipment.

The indigenous network is cloud-based, future-ready, and designed to be seamlessly upgradable to 5G, reflecting the government’s vision of a technologically self-reliant India.

Silver Jubilee Celebration and Tower Commissioning

The inauguration coincided with the silver jubilee of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). During the event, PM Modi commissioned more than 97,500 mobile 4G towers, including 92,600 sites equipped with 4G technology.

These towers, constructed at a cost of around Rs 37,000 crore, utilize entirely ‘swadeshi’ technology. The rollout aims to provide robust mobile connectivity across the country, particularly in rural and remote regions.

Connecting Villages and Empowering Communities

The deployment of the ‘Swadeshi’ 4G network will bring connectivity to over 26,700 previously unconnected villages, including 2,472 villages in Odisha. These areas include remote regions, border zones, and districts affected by left-wing extremism.

The initiative is expected to serve more than 20 lakh new subscribers, bridging the digital divide and fostering socio-economic development in underserved areas.

Sustainable and Green Infrastructure

In addition to expanding connectivity, the towers are solar-powered, making them India’s largest cluster of environmentally sustainable telecom sites. This aligns with the government’s commitment to green infrastructure and clean energy adoption.

Towards 100% 4G Coverage

PM Modi also unveiled India’s 100 per cent 4G saturation network through the Digital Bharat Nidhi initiative. Under this mission-mode project, around 29,000–30,000 villages have been connected, further advancing India’s goal of comprehensive digital inclusion.

The rollout of the ‘Swadeshi’ 4G network not only strengthens the country’s telecom infrastructure but also lays the foundation for BSNL’s future 5G upgrades and integration, reinforcing India’s position as a global technology player.