According to the minister of state for communications and rural development, India’s 5G network has expanded significantly, with the number of 5G base transceiver stations (BTSs) rising from 1,40,623 as of March 31, 2023 to 5,62,971 as of June 30, 2026. The technology is now available in 99.9 per cent of districts across the country.
Under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN)-funded 4G Saturation Project and other mobile connectivity initiatives, around 24,000 mobile towers have been commissioned across the country through June 2026, aimed at extending 4G coverage to all previously uncovered villages.
On the research and development front, 136 projects have been approved under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme as of June 30, 2026, with sanctioned funding of nearly Rs 5.43 billion. These projects cover frontier areas including 6G, quantum communication, satellite and non-terrestrial networks, optical systems, indigenous 5G core and telecom security.
The government released its Bharat 6G Vision Document in March 2023, outlining objectives to design, develop and deploy 6G technologies that provide ubiquitous, intelligent and secure connectivity, positioning India as a global leader in next-generation telecom. The Department of Telecommunications has also notified a production linked incentive scheme with an outlay of Rs 121.95 billion to promote domestic manufacturing of telecom and networking products by incentivising incremental investments and sales.