On 27 September 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated BSNL’s fully indigenous “Swadeshi” 4G network. This historic achievement marks the commissioning of nearly 97,500 to 98,000 towers nationwide, with around 92,600 towers powered by India’s own 4G technology.
With this milestone, India joins the elite group of nations like China, Sweden, and South Korea—countries capable of deploying end-to-end telecom equipment. This move is a big step toward self-reliance under the Made in India initiative.
Who Built It? – The Bharat Telecom Stack
The indigenous 4G stack, known as the Bharat Telecom Stack, was developed by a domestic consortium of Indian technology leaders:
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): System integrator managing deployment.
C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics): Developed the core network software (Evolved Packet Core).
Tejas Networks: Built the Radio Access Network (RAN) and radio units.
Together, these companies created a cloud-based, software-driven, and 5G-ready architecture for BSNL.
Technical Architecture
RAN (Radio Access Network): Tejas Networks’ radio provides connectivity between towers and user devices.
Core Network (EPC): C-DOT’s software manages signaling, mobility, and internet routing.
Cloud-Native Design: Functions run on a virtualized cloud infrastructure, making the network scalable and future-proof.
5G Ready: Designed for a seamless upgrade to 5G.
Open RAN: While Tejas has collaborations with Rakuten in Open RAN, the rollout here is primarily cloud-native, not branded Open RAN everywhere.
Scale, Timeline, and Cost
Towers: ~97,500–98,000 commissioned; ~92,600 with indigenous stack.
Village Coverage: 26,700 villages connected, including 2,472 villages in Odisha.
Project Cost: ₹37,000 crore.
Timeline: Built over the last 1–2 years, with phased rollout after pilot projects (2023–24).
Vendors: Tejas Networks secured large RAN contracts earlier, enabling deployment at this scale.
Why It Matters
1. Strategic Significance
Digital Sovereignty: Reduces reliance on foreign telecom vendors.
Security & Resilience: Protects India’s critical telecom infrastructure.
Global Standing: Positions India among the global telecom manufacturing leaders.
Export Potential: Opens the door for India to become a telecom exporter.
2. Socio-Economic Significance
Bridging the Digital Divide: Connects remote, border, and left-wing extremism-affected areas.
Inclusive Growth: Boosts education, telemedicine, and e-governance.
BSNL Revival: Strengthens India’s state-owned operator financially and technologically.
