BSNL's 4G Expansion Nears 1 Lakh Sites, Minister Confirms.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has made significant strides in its pan-India 4G deployment, with a total of 95,537 4G sites installed as of June 30, 2025. This information was provided by the Ministry of Communications to Parliament on Wednesday.

The rollout follows BSNL's placement of purchase orders for indigenously developed 4G equipment, with supplies commencing in September 2023. Of the nearly 96,000 installed sites, 90,035 are currently "On-Air," providing 4G services across the country.

Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, further confirmed in a Lok Sabha reply that all the deployed 4G equipment is 5G-upgradable, paving the way for future advancements in BSNL's network capabilities.

Meanwhile, concerns regarding network availability, particularly in rural areas, were also addressed in Parliament. When questioned about the uninterrupted mobile network services provided by private telecom companies in rural Rajasthan, contrasting with BSNL towers that reportedly fail during power cuts, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that remedial action is being undertaken wherever such issues exist, including in Rajasthan.

This ongoing 4G expansion marks a crucial step for BSNL in bolstering its competitive position in the Indian telecom market and improving connectivity, especially in underserved regions.