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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3065
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19TH MARCH, 2026
5G COVERAGE
3065 SHRI LAHAR SINGH SIROYA:
Will the Minister of Communications be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government has accelerated the nationwide rollout of 5G and strengthened telecom
infrastructure to boost Digital India and e-governance across the country;
(b) the extent of 5G coverage achieved in Karnataka, including rural and semi-urban districts;
and
(c) the measurable impact of enhanced connectivity on MSMEs, online education, telemedicine,
and employment generation in the State and the country?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) 5G services have been rolled out in all States/ UTs across the country and presently it is
available in 99.9% of the districts in the country.
During the last three years, number of 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) across the country
have increased from 1,40,623 as on 31.03.2023, to , 5,23,866 as on 28.02.2026 .
(b) As on 28.02.2026, 34,444 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) have been installed in the
State of Karnataka. Further, 19636 villages of the State of Karnataka have been brought under 5G
services by 31.01.2026.
(c) As on 31.12.2025, 39.8 crores mobile subscribers had started using the 5G services. Out of
these, 2.4 crores subscribers are using 5G services in the State of Karnataka. With high speeds,
enhanced reliability and low latency, and massive machine type communications features, 5G
services has potential to impact every industry and social sectors.
Further, the Central Government has setup 100 5G labs across the country with an outlay of
₹97.67 Cr which are being utilized for development of 5G use cases/applications in various socio-
economic sectors such as Education, Agriculture, Healthcare, Manufacturing & Industrial
Automation, Mining, Energy and Grid Power, Automotive Industry, Media and Entertainment etc.
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