Parliament Question: Coverage of 5G mobile services

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2264 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH MARCH, 2026 COVERAGE OF 5G MOBILE SERVICES 2264 SHRI S.R. SIVALINGAM: Will the Minister of Communications be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has achieved eighty‑five per cent population coverage through the nationwide rollout of fifth‑generation mobile services by the conclusion of the year 2025; (b) the details of rural connectivity expansion projects managed by Government to bridge the digital divide, including initiatives that enhanced access to telephone and broadband services; and (c) the number of 5G base stations established by Government and telecom operators to ensure high‑speed network coverage across all the districts in the country? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR) (a) Yes, as per the information provided by Telecom Service Providers(TSPs), 5G mobile services are available to approximately 86% of the total population in the country. (b) For providing high bandwidth capacity internet/broadband connectivity and mobile services to rural villages and islands, in the country that currently lack coverage, a number of steps & projects have been taken up with funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Details of the major projects are as follows: i. BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages in the country. As of January 2026, 2,14,921 GPs have been made service ready under BharatNet project in the country. Further, Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) has been approved by the Government on 04.08.2023, for up-gradation of existing network of BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II, creation of network in balance GPs and connectivity to remaining non-GP villages on demand basis from their respective GPs. ii. Under Government funded 4G Saturation Project and other Mobile projects, till January 2026, 23,994 mobile towers have been commissioned in the country. iii. Submarine optical fibre cable between Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (2312 Km) and between mainland (Kochi) and Lakshadweep Islands (1869 km) have been commissioned. Further, 225Km Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) network in Lakshadweep Islands has been created for provision of FTTH & other services. These optical fibre cable projects have facilitated faster roll out of fixed line broadband/internet services, mobile services (4G/5G) and other high-speed data services in the Islands. (c) As on 28.02.2026, 5.23 Lakhs 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) have been installed across the country. ***** 1