**Policy Summary: Rural and Nationwide Digital Infrastructure Development Under PM Modi's Tenure**
This document summarizes the achievements in rural and nationwide digital infrastructure development in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure, as of June 30, 2025. Key data points are provided in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4478, answered on August 20, 2025, by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar.
Significant progress has been made in expanding mobile network infrastructure. The total number of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) has increased substantially from 649,834 as of March 31, 2014, to 3,037,263 as of June 30, 2025.
The rollout of 5G service, launched on October 1, 2022, has achieved near-nationwide availability, reaching 99.9% of districts in the country. As of June 30, 2025, Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have installed 486,070 5G BTSs.
Mobile coverage in villages has improved, increasing from 90.68% in 2014 to 97.65% as of May 2025, covering 629,027 out of 644,131 villages. The BharatNet project has made 214,000 Gram Panchayats service-ready.
In Odisha, various schemes under the Digital Bharat Nidhi Fund are being implemented to enhance telecom services in rural areas. As of June 30, 2025, 3,113 4G mobile towers have been commissioned under initiatives like the 4G Saturation Scheme, Aspirational Districts scheme, and Left Wing Extremism Scheme. Furthermore, 6,785 Gram Panchayats in Odisha have been made service-ready under the BharatNet project, and TSPs have installed 13,334 5G BTSs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Communications: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for telecommunications and postal services.
Department of Telecommunications: A department under the Ministry of Communications, responsible for telecom policy, licensing, and regulation.
Pradeep Purohit: Member of LOK SABHA who raised the question about rural and nationwide digital infrastructure.
Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar: The Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development who provided the answer to the question.
Odisha: A state in India where digital infrastructure development is being undertaken.
5G: Fifth generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks.
BharatNet project: A project to provide broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats in India.
Digital Bharat Nidhi Fund: A fund utilized by the government to implement various schemes for providing telecom services in rural areas.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4478
ANSWERED ON 20TH AUGUST, 2025
RURAL AND NATIONWIDE DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE
4478. SHRI PRADEEP PUROHIT:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
that the achievements in rural and nationwide digital infrastructure under PM Modi’s tenure
in Odisha?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
Some of the major achievements in rural and nationwide digital infrastructure under Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s tenure 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.
(iv) Government is implementing various schemes under ‘Digital Bharat Nidhi’ Fund for
providing telecom services in rural areas of Odisha. Under schemes such as 4G Saturation
Scheme, Aspirational Districts scheme and Left Wing Extremism Scheme, as on
30.06.2025, 3113 4G mobile towers have been commissioned in Odisha. Additionally,
under the BharatNet project, 6,785 Gram Panchayats have been made service-ready. In
addition, TSPs have as on 30.06.2025, installed 13,334 5G BTSs in Odisha.
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