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SRINAGAR 26 Sept: On BSNL’s Silver Jubilee—25 years since its establishment on October 1, 2000—we are celebrating the inauguration of indigenous innovation and a BSNL on its way to profitability. The rollout of swadeshi 4G stack by BSNL pursuant to the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister that has been developed indigenously by C-DoT core, Tejas Networks and TCS and associated planned ~1 lakh sites. This indigenous 4G technology is upgradable to 5G technology.
The DBN (Digital Bharat Nidhi – erstwhile USOF) 4G mobile project to connect the unconnected has planned 27,106 4G sites (at a cost outlay of ~Rs.31,000 crore) covering almost over 38,000 villages.
The nationwide 92,633 sites (including 14,180 BSNL DBN 4G sites that have not yet been inaugurated) are driven by fully “Atmanirbhar” 4G technology and are software-upgradable to 5G. They offer high-speed mobile internet across the country to not only its old customers but to additional more than half million subscribers who were never connected to the digital world. The DBN 4G mobile project includes 14,180 DBN funded 4G Sites being executed by BSNL.
Out of 14,180 DBN funded 4G Sites being executed by BSNL more than 400 sites are allotted to Kashmir Valley out of which 262 are operational and radiating, besides the existing 550 sites of 2G & 3G have been upgraded to 4G technology under phase IX.2 of BSNL and are fully functional. It is expected that the full rollout of remaining 28,537 towers will be completed by Q2 of 2026.
With the launch of the indigenous 4G network India has achieved a milestone that positions it among the only 5 nations with a home-grown 4G telecom stack. The swadeshi 4G network will support new digital applications and pave the way for BSNL 5G upgrade and integration, aligned to the Government of India’s vision of digital inclusion, domestic manufacturing, economic empowerment, and secure communications infrastructure.
BSNL’s journey has reached a defining moment after 17 years, the company has posted back-to-back quarterly profits—₹262 crore in Q3 FY25 and ₹280 crore in Q4 FY25. Operating revenue rose 7.8% year-on-year to ₹20,841 crore. These gains, driven by cost discipline, 4G expansion, asset monetisation, and stronger enterprise/FTTH lines, underscore that BSNL is not just turning around, but emerging stronger.
