India Enters a Select Global Club
In a landmark moment for India’s digital transformation journey, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) “Swadeshi” 4G stack, officially placing India among the select few countries that design, develop, and deploy homegrown telecom technology. This rollout marks India’s entry into an exclusive group of nations including China, Denmark, Sweden, and South Korea, which have achieved the feat of manufacturing their own telecom equipment.
Addressing the nation, PM Modi emphasized that the development of an indigenous 4G ecosystem is not only a technological milestone but also a matter of national pride. “India is now among the five countries in the world that possess indigenous technology to launch 4G telecom services,” he declared.
BSNL at the Forefront of Transformation
BSNL, India’s state-owned telecom operator, has been at the center of this groundbreaking initiative. The Prime Minister highlighted BSNL’s contribution in connecting India’s remotest corners, saying, “It is because of BSNL that India is moving towards becoming a global telecom manufacturing hub. The Swadeshi 4G network begins today from here, ensuring safe and indigenous services for citizens and soldiers alike.”
The nationwide rollout includes more than 97,500 mobile towers, out of which 92,600 have been built with indigenous 4G technology. These towers, commissioned at a cost of nearly ₹37,000 crore, are expected to enhance coverage across border regions, remote districts, and rural villages where connectivity has historically been limited.
Swadeshi mobile network today, Swadeshi chips tomorrow 🗼
Honoured to virtually join Adarniya Shri @narendramodi ji as he launched the Swadeshi BSNL 4G stack and 97,500 4G DBN towers along with Hon'ble Union Minister Shri @JM_Scindia ji in Guwahati today.
This indigenization,… pic.twitter.com/yL1FhSFGBX
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 27, 2025
Bridging the Digital Divide
The launch is a critical step in advancing the Prime Minister’s Digital India vision. Over 26,700 villages, including 2,472 in Odisha alone, will now gain access to reliable mobile connectivity. This effort will benefit approximately 20 lakh new subscribers, providing them with access to high-speed internet services that can transform local economies, healthcare, and education systems.
Union Communication Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stressed the wider significance of this achievement, stating, “Earlier, India was a service nation, but now we are a producer nation. We were once known as consumers, but today, we are recognized as an innovation, entrepreneurship, and exports hub.”
The Swadeshi 4G network is also designed to enhance secure communication for defense forces operating in border and sensitive regions, ensuring that national security is strengthened through indigenous systems.
A Step Towards 5G and Beyond
The rollout of BSNL’s 4G stack is not an endpoint but a stepping stone toward India’s broader telecom ambitions. The indigenous 4G technology has been developed with a forward-looking approach, enabling seamless upgrades to 5G in the near future.
On the occasion of BSNL’s Silver Jubilee, PM Modi also announced the commissioning of India’s 100 percent 4G saturation network under the Digital Bharat Nidhi program. This ambitious project aims to connect nearly 30,000 villages in mission mode, ensuring no community is left behind in the digital revolution.
Economic and Strategic Impact
The successful deployment of indigenous telecom equipment has wide-ranging implications. Economically, it positions India as a competitive player in the global telecom manufacturing market, opening avenues for exports and reducing dependence on foreign technology. Strategically, it enhances India’s self-reliance in critical infrastructure, aligning with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Experts believe this achievement could pave the way for India to become a significant exporter of telecom technologies, further boosting the country’s profile as a global technology leader.
Conclusion
The launch of the Swadeshi 4G stack is more than just a technological breakthrough; it is a transformative milestone in India’s quest for self-reliance, digital empowerment, and global recognition. By joining the ranks of telecom technology producers, India has signaled its determination to not only keep pace with the digital world but also shape its future.
