SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Ministry of Communications | Department of Telecommunications
The Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development informed the Rajya Sabha that 5G services have been rolled out in all States and Union Territories, covering 99.9% of districts across the country, supported by large-scale deployment of 5G Base Transceiver Stations and policy reforms to strengthen digital infrastructure, service quality, innovation, and network security.
Infrastructure and Connectivity Status
Widespread Reach: 5G services are operational in all States/UTs, covering 99.9% of districts and over 1.12 lakh villages.
BTS Density: A total of 5.18 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) have been installed by TSPs as of year-end 2025.
Performance Surge: The median mobile broadband speed has witnessed a substantial jump, reaching 131.47 Mbps in late 2025.
Innovation and Capacity Building:
5G Use Case Labs: 100 dedicated labs established across colleges to promote R&D in sectors like education, health, and agriculture using AI and Blockchain.
5G Innovation Hackathon 2025: Launched to incentivize startups and students to develop advanced technological solutions for domestic challenges.
Academia-Industry Linkage: Initiatives are specifically designed to strengthen the startup ecosystem and foster industry-ready technical talent.
Regulatory and Security Reforms:
Facilitating Rollout: Rationalization of Bank Guarantees, interest rates, and the simplification of SACFA clearances have lowered the barrier for telecom service providers.
Quality Benchmarks: TRAI’s revised 2024 regulations ensure that the surge in connectivity is matched by high-quality, reliable internet services.
Cyber Resilience: Adoption of Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements (ITSARs) ensures that 5G network functions are procurements from verified, trusted sources.
Policy Relevance
Infrastructural Transformation: Rapid 5G deployment has led to the installation of 5.18 lakh Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs), achieving 85% population coverage across 99.9% of Indian districts.
Academic-Industry Synergy: The establishment of 100 5G Use Case Labs in educational institutions integrates AI and blockchain to foster a robust startup ecosystem and socio-economic innovation.
Ease of Doing Business: Strategic financial reforms, including the rationalization of AGR and the launch of the GatiShakti Sanchar portal, have streamlined the rollout process and reduced compliance burdens.
Network Integrity and Security: Implementation of the Trusted Telecom framework and Communication Security Certification (ComSec) ensures that 5G infrastructure is resilient and procured from verified sources.
Quality of Service (QoS) Benchmarks: Adoption of revised 2024 regulations ensures high-speed data reliability (median 131.47 Mbps) while balancing security with technological innovation.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can the Ministry of Communications leverage the 1.12 lakh 5G-enabled villages to drive digital inclusion in precision agriculture and remote healthcare by 2030?
Follow the full news here: Measures to promote development of applications over 5G networks
Expansion and Status of 5G Services