Per the data the Ministry of Communications released in their latest press release, 5G services have been rolled out in all States/ UTs across the country. Presently, 5G services are available in 779 districts out of 783 districts in the country.  

In addition to the network coverage, 100 5G Use Case Labs have been installed in academic institutes, an initiative that began in October, last year.  

Establishment of  BTS

Apart from reaching over 99% of districts, India’s telecom sector has been successful in establishing more than 4.6 lacks 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) giving a big infrastructure boost to the telecom ecosystem in India.  

This means that the total number of Mobile Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) in India reached 29.48 lakh as of Nov.2024, of which the number of mobile towers was 8.13 lakh as of Nov 2024.

BSNL reaches Nabhidang 

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has successfully established 4G connectivity infrastructure at Chhiyalekh, near the China border in the Vyas Valley, and the remote outpost of Nabhidang, located at an altitude of 14,500 feet. This milestone represents a significant advancement in India’s telecom sector, as service providers focus on enhancing connectivity in strategically important regions of the country.

Read about it here: BSNL deploys 4G connectivity at Nabhidang, the India-China border’s last post at an altitude of 14,500 ft 

Airtel reaches Kupwara

Bharti Airtel has partnered with the Indian Army to enhance connectivity in the villages of Kupwara, Baramulla, and Bandipore districts along the Line of Control in North Kashmir. Approximately 15 mobile towers have been installed to provide reliable network access to the region's residents. This initiative represents a significant milestone in advancing Net Neutrality in India.

Read about it here: Airtel’s network connectivity reaches Bandipore, Kupwara, and Baramulla with the Indian Army’s assistance 

India’s teledensity 

Total telephone connections in India grew from 933 million in March 2014 to 1188.70 million in October 2024. The number of mobile telephone connections stood at 1151.18 million at the end of October 2024. Eventually, the overall tele-density in India which was 75.23 % in March 2014 rose to 84.49% in October 2024. while the urban telephone connections rose to 661.36 million in October 2024 as compared to 555.23 million in March 2014, growing by 19.11%, the growth in rural telephone connections grew to 39.58% which is more than double of urban increase, rising from 377.78 million in March 2014 to 527.34 million in October, 2024.

Where’s India in 6G? 

 The Bharat 6G Alliance(B6GA) is a collaborative platform bringing together academia, industry, and government to build a comprehensive 6G ecosystem in India. It also has a group to steer the 6G growth in India through specific targets namely patents and technology. It has targeted to achieve a tenfold increase in 6G patents by 2030 along with the development of at least one new railway technology. It has also asserted that India to have at least 10 Standard Essential Patents (SEPs), essential for developing 6G.   

Read more about the Bharat 6G alliance at: PLI Extension and Import Restrictions Likely on Cards to Boost India’s 6G Leadership