**Summary:**
As of June 30, 2025, a total of 652 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) have been installed and are operational in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, and 84 5G BTSs have been installed and are operational in the Kalimpong district. 5G services are available in 127 villages in Darjeeling and 22 villages in Kalimpong. 5G BTSs are available in all Block Head Quarters (BHQs) and District Head Quarters (DHQs) of both districts. Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have exceeded the minimum rollout obligations outlined in the Notice Inviting Application (NIA) for spectrum auction. Further expansion of 5G services is subject to the techno-commercial considerations of the TSPs. This information was provided by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 473 on July 23, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Communications: A ministry within the Government of India, responsible for communications infrastructure and services.
Department of Telecommunications: A department under the Ministry of Communications, responsible for telecom policy and regulation.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
5G network: The fifth generation of wireless technology, intended to increase the speed and responsiveness of wireless networks.
Darjeeling district of West Bengal: A district in the state of West Bengal, India, that is the subject of the parliamentary question regarding 5G expansion.
Kalimpong district: A district in West Bengal, India, that is the subject of the parliamentary question regarding 5G expansion.
Telecom Service Providers: Companies that provide telecommunication services.
Notice Inviting Application: Document outlining the rules and requirements for the auction of spectrum.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 473
ANSWERED ON 23RD JULY, 2025
EXPANSION OF 5G NETWORK
473. SHRI RAJU BISTA:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of 5G network expansion in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, including
the number of 5G towers installed and operational as of date;
(b) the total number of villages and urban areas in these districts where 5G services are available;
and
(c) the specific timeline for the full implementation of 5G services in these districts, particularly
in rural and hilly areas?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) to (c) As on 30th June 2025, total of 652 number of 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs)
have been installed and made operational by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) in Darjeeling district
of West Bengal. Similarly, 84 number of 5G BTSs have been installed and are operational in
Kalimpong district.
For provisioning of 5G services in the villages, 5G BTSs have been installed in 127 number
of villages in Darjeeling district and 22 number of villages in Kalimpong district of West Bengal.
Further, 5G BTSs are available in all the Block Head Quarters (BHQs) as well as in the District Head
Quarters (DHQs) of these two districts.
TSPs have expanded the 5G services across the country, including in Darjeeling and
Kalimpong districts and have gone beyond the minimum rollout obligations, as prescribed in the
Notice Inviting Application (NIA) for spectrum auction. Expansion of mobile services beyond these
obligations depends on the techno-commercial consideration of the TSPs.
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