**Policy Summary: Telecom Services Enhancement in Hilly Areas and BSNL Progress**
The Ministry of Communications reported on July 30, 2025, regarding the progress of telecom services, particularly in hilly areas, and the performance of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). Subscriber data from Telecom Service Providers, including BSNL, is available on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) website.
As part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, BSNL has been deploying indigenously developed 4G sites nationwide. As of June 30, 2025, 95,537 4G sites have been installed, with 90,035 sites operational (ONAir). This equipment is 5G upgradable. BSNL has demonstrated improved financial performance due to revival packages, achieving operating profits since Fiscal Year 2020-21. Notably, BSNL reported net profits of Rs. 262 Crore and Rs. 280 Crore in Quarter 3 and 4 of Financial Year 2024-25, respectively.
To enhance telecom infrastructure in hilly regions, the government is implementing projects under Digital Bharat Nidhi (formerly Universal Service Obligation Fund - USOF), including:
1. **4G Saturation project:** Providing 4G mobile services in uncovered villages.
2. **Border Out Posts (BoP)/Border Intelligence Posts (BIP) project:** Provision of 4G-based mobile services at BoPs/BIPs.
3. **Schemes for Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas:** Providing mobile services in these regions.
4. **Scheme for Aspirational Districts:** Improving mobile services in these districts.
5. **Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for the North Eastern Region (NER):** Providing mobile coverage in uncovered villages and along National Highways.
6. **BharatNet project:** Phased implementation to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages on demand.
This information was provided by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Communications: The Indian government ministry responsible for telecommunications.
BSNL: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, an Indian state-owned telecommunications company.
TRAI: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the regulator for the telecommunications sector in India.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: A Government of India initiative promoting self-reliance and domestic manufacturing.
Digital Bharat Nidhi: A fund (erstwhile Universal Service Obligation Fund - USOF) used to improve telecom infrastructure, especially in rural and remote areas of India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar: Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development.
BharatNet: A project to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats in India.
Ministry of Communications
Telecom Services in Hilly Areas
Posted On: 30 JUL 2025 4:16PM by PIB Delhi
The details of subscribers in the country for various Telecom Service Providers including BSNL as collected
and published by TRAI from time to time are available on its website. Further, in line with Atmanirbhar
Bharat initiative, BSNL has placed purchase order for indigenously developed 4G sites for pan India
deployment. Supply of 4G equipment has started from September 2023 and as on 30.06.2025, total 95,537 4G
sites have been installed and 90,035 sites are ON-Air. The equipment is 5G upgradable.
As a result of the revival packages given to BSNL, BSNL has started earning operating profits from F.Y.
2020-21 and BSNL has earned net profit of Rs. 262 Crore and 280 Crore in Quarter 3 & 4 of Financial Year
2024-25 respectively.
To improve telecom infrastructure in the hilly areas across the country, Government is implementing various
projects under Digital Bharat Nidhi (erstwhile USOF) such as (i) 4G Saturation project to provide 4G mobile
services in uncovered villages across the country, (ii) Border Out Posts (BoP)/Border Intelligence Posts (BIP)
project for the provision of 4G based mobile services at BoP/BIP’s, (iii) Schemes for providing mobile
services in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, (iv) Scheme for providing mobile services in
Aspirational Districts, (v) Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for mobile connectivity in the
NER to provide mobile coverage in uncovered villages and along the National Highways, and (vi) BharatNet
project which is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram
Panchayats (GPs) and villages on demand in the country.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr.
Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
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Samrat / Allen
(Release ID: 2150178)