By Kavita Mistry 
State-run telecom giant Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is set to upgrade its entire 4G network to 5G within the next six to eight months, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced at the Kautilya Economic Conclave. The move marks a significant leap in India’s efforts to build a self-reliant telecom ecosystem.
The minister highlighted that 92,500 BSNL 4G towers, which went live on September 27, are based entirely on indigenously developed software and hardware. “The easy path was to buy equipment from foreign vendors; the difficult path was to invent our own 4G stack. In just 22 months, we developed our own core software and radio access network (RAN),” Scindia said.
BSNL’s Strong Comeback Story
Celebrating 25 years of service, BSNL has shown a remarkable turnaround. The company’s operating profit surged to ₹5,000 crore this financial year, more than doubling from ₹2,300 crore last year. Its subscriber base also grew from 8.7 crore to 9.1 crore, serving over 22 million people nationwide.
The 5G upgrade is expected to further boost BSNL’s competitiveness against private telecom players, enabling faster connectivity and supporting India’s growing digital infrastructure.
AI and Digital Transformation on the Horizon
Scindia also revealed that the government is preparing a Digital Consumer Charter to ensure ethical and fair use of artificial intelligence (AI). He expressed confidence in India’s ability to become one of the top five AI nations globally, citing the country’s innovation and resilience.
“India is not just another destination in uncertain times — it’s the destination for growth and innovation,” Scindia concluded, inviting global investors to participate in the country’s digital future.
With BSNL’s rapid 5G expansion and the government’s AI initiatives, India is positioning itself at the forefront of the global telecom and technology landscape.