India's Dominance in 5G Adoption
India has secured the second position globally for 5G subscribers, trailing only China, with over 400 million users adopting the technology. Union Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, highlighted this achievement on Friday, noting India's status as one of the world's fastest adopters of 5G. The nation is actively setting global standards in digital transformation, scale, and speed.
Rapid Network Expansion
Since its launch in 2022, 5G services have seen a swift rollout across India. As of March 2025, telecom service providers had installed approximately 4.69 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs), achieving a population coverage of 85%. This rapid deployment underscores India's commitment to advanced digital infrastructure. Reports indicate that since the 5G rollout began, roughly 25 crore mobile users have transitioned to 5G services.
Indigenous Technology and Rural Reach
In alignment with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, India has made strides in developing its own 4G stack, which is upgradeable to 5G, becoming the fifth country globally to possess such technology. This indigenous capability was developed in just two years. Furthermore, research and development into 6G are progressing under the Bharat 6G Mission. The minister also pointed to significant growth in rural connectivity, with telephone connections increasing by 42.9%, nearly doubling the urban growth rate.
Digital Footprint Growth
India's overall internet connections have crossed the one billion mark, reaching 100.29 crore. This represents a substantial increase from the 25.15 crore connections reported in March 2014. The expansion of both 5G and internet penetration signals a deepening digital economy and enhanced connectivity for citizens across the nation.