**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1642, answered on July 30, 2025, by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, the Ministry of Communications provided details regarding Bharat Telecom 2025 and achievements in India's digital infrastructure.
The primary objective of Bharat Telecom 2025 was to foster interaction between global buyers and Indian telecom equipment manufacturers and solution providers.
Significant advancements in digital infrastructure under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's tenure include:
* An increase in the total number of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) from 649,834 (as of March 31, 2014) to 3,037,263 (as of June 30, 2025).
* The launch of 5G service on October 1, 2022, with availability in 99.9% of the country's districts. As of June 30, 2025, 486,070 5G BTSs have been installed by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).
* Improvement in mobile coverage in villages from 90.68% in 2014 to 97.65% as of May 2025, covering 629,027 out of 644,131 villages. Furthermore, 214,000 Gram Panchayats have been made service-ready under the BharatNet project.
Bharat Telecom 2025 saw international participation from 135 delegates representing 31 countries, engaging in meetings and exploring investment and partnership opportunities.
Key Entities Referenced
Bharat Telecom 2025: An exposition aimed at facilitating interactions between global buyers and domestic telecom equipment manufacturers and solution providers in India.
Shri Narendra Modi: The Prime Minister of India during whose tenure achievements in the digital infrastructure sector were highlighted.
Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar: The Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development.
5G: Fifth generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks, launched in India on 1st October 2022.
Telecom Service Providers (TSPs): Entities responsible for installing 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs).
BharatNet: A project aimed at providing broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats in India.
Gram Panchayats: Village level local self-government institutions in India, 2.14 lakh of which have been made service-ready under the BharatNet project.
Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs): Equipment that facilitates wireless communication between user equipment (UE) and a network.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1642
ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2025
BHARAT TELECOM 2025
†1642. SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:
SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:
SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:
SMT. KAMLESH JANGDE:
DR. RAJESH MISHRA:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) the basic objectives and expected outcomes of the Bharat Telecom 2025 Expo;
(b) the various achievements made during the tenure of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in
digital infrastructure sector at the rural and national level; and
(c) the nature and extent of international participation in India Telecom 2025 Expo?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) The basic objective and expected outcome of Bharat Telecom 2025 was to facilitate
interactions between potential global buyers and domestic telecom equipment manufacturers
as well as solution providers from India.
(b) Some of the major achievements made during the tenure of Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi in digital infrastructure sector at the rural and national level are as under:
(i) The total number of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) has increased from 6,49,834
as on 31.03.2014 to 30,37,263 as on 30.06.2025.
(ii) 5G service, launched in India on 1st October 2022, is presently available in 99.9%
of the districts in the country. As on 30.06.2025, 4,86,070 5G BTSs have been
installed by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).
(iii) Mobile coverage in villages has improved from 90.68% in 2014 to 97.65% as of
May 2025, covering 6,29,027 out of 6,44,131 villages. Additionally, under the
BharatNet project, 2.14 lakh Gram Panchayats have been made service-ready.
(c) 135 international delegates from 31 countries participated at Bharat Telecom 2025 for
meetings, and exploring investment and partnership opportunities.
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