BSNL is upgrading existing sites with indigenous 4G stacks. As of January 15, 2026, 97,672 4G sites have been installed and 95,511 are ON-Air. In Andhra Pradesh, 6,108 4G sites have been installed, with 6,045 ON-Air. The equipment is 5G upgradable. 3G subscribers are being given 4G services as part of the 4G rollout, eliminating the need for Annual Maintenance Contracts for other manufacturers. BSNL is installing 1 lakh 4G towers. BSNL's customer base increased from 8.86 crore to 9.28 crore from March, 2024 to December, 2025. Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on February 5, 2026 (RS-STARRED QUESTION NO. 73).
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Key Entities Referenced
BSNL: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, the Indian state-owned telecommunications company.
Ministry of Communications: The Union Ministry responsible for telecommunications in India.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: An initiative by the Indian government to promote self-reliance and indigenous production.
Rajya Sabha: The Upper House of the Parliament of India, where the Union Minister provided the information.
4G: Fourth-generation mobile telecommunications technology, being deployed by BSNL.
Ministry of Communications
BSNL is upgrading its existing sites by deploying
indigenous 4G stacks
BSNL has increased its customer base from 8.86 crore to
9.28 crore from March, 2024 to December, 2025
Posted On: 05 FEB 2026 6:02PM by PIB Delhi
In line with Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, BSNL has placed purchase order for indigenously developed
one lakh 4G sites for pan India deployment. Supply of 4G equipment has started from September 2023
and as on 15.01.2026, total 97,672 4G sites have been installed and 95,511 sites are ON-Air. In Andhra
Pradesh, BSNL has installed 6,108 4G sites out of which 6,045 sites are ON-Air as on 15.01.2026. The
equipment is 5G upgradable from technology perspective.
As technology evolves, consumers migrate to latest technology, where such technology is
deployed. As per that evolution, all 3G subscribers are being given 4G services as part of 4G rollout of
BSNL.
BSNL is upgrading its existing sites by deploying indigenous 4G stacks. Where 4G services are
being provided, there is no need for 3G services, therefore, there is no longer requirement of Annual
Maintenance Contract for other manufacturers.
Currently, BSNL is installing 1 lakh 4G towers and on further expansion, BSNL will continue to
increase its number of towers as per techno-commercial viability.
BSNL has increased its customer base from 8.86 crore to 9.28 crore from March, 2024 to
December, 2025.
This was stated by the Union Minister of Communications and Development of Northeastern
Region Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
(RS-STARRED QUESTION NO. 73; 05-02-2026)
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