New Delhi [India], March 28 (ANI): The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)
BSNL
) is currently rolling out 1,00,000 fully indigenous 4G towers under the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme, which includes Core technology by C-DOT (a government entity), RAN (telecom towers) by Tejas Networks and System integration by TCS.

At the Times Now Summit 2025, the Union Minister spoke about
Communication
Jyotiraditya Scindia
stated that the government aims to complete the target by June this year, and once the target is achieved, these towers will be switched to
5G
.

At present, only four nations—China, Finland, Sweden, and South Korea—boast companies developing a comprehensive telecom stack. With the creation of our own indigenous 4G telecom stack, India has become the fifth nation to accomplish this feat.
BSNL
is rolling out 100,000 fully indigenous 4G towers under Atmanirbhar Bharat. This includes: Core technology by C-DOT (a government entity), RAN (telecom towers) by Tejas Networks and System integration by TCS. We aim to complete this by June. Once that is done, we will switch these 100,000 towers to
5G
At the same time, our efforts are already directed towards developing 6G.”,
Jyotiraditya Scindia
said during the event.

Scindia went on to elaborate further
BSNL
‘profits were discussed, and it was mentioned that the government has already initiated Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite messaging services.

”
BSNL
is already at the forefront. We have introduced Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite messaging services. Additionally, after 18 years,
BSNL
has ultimately become profitable. During the October-December quarter,
BSNL
reported a net profit of Rs262 crore, as opposed to a loss of Rs1,262 crore in the third quarter of the previous year. Additionally, we have reduced expenses by 18%, resulting in a threefold increase in EBITDA, which has risen from Rs450 crores to Rs1,500 crores. India continues to be one of the few nations with four rival telecommunications companies. In contrast to global markets where telecoms are consolidating, India is witnessing swift growth in this sector,” said Scindia.

Scindia acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for prioritizing telecommunications and information technology, stating that for India to emerge as a leading global marketplace, these industries must consistently remain at the forefront.

Today, India is operating at full throttle. Just as the Industrial Revolution transformed society a century ago, the Communication Revolution is poised to bring about an even more profound transformation in this framework. The once-physical pathways have evolved into digital highways, and these new routes will reshape various aspects of human existence over the coming ten years.
Jyotiraditya Scindia
said.

This is precisely why the Prime Minister has prioritized telecommunications and information technology—since for India to emerge as a leading global marketplace, these industries must lead the charge. By 2014, our country boasted around 900 million mobile subscriptions; now, this figure exceeds 1.2 billion. Similarly, back in 2014, approximately 250 million individuals used the internet—a total equivalent to America’s populace—but today, we count nearly 970 million active internet users. Additionally, broadband access (with plans offering 2GB or higher) was enjoyed by merely 60 million citizens four years ago compared to the current tally of about 940 million users—an astounding increase. Historically known for being driven by service-oriented communications, India needs to transform itself into a powerhouse in telecommunication products under the guidance set forth by the Prime Minister. He emphasized further that becoming significant players within the realm of telecom product fabrication requires us joining ranks with those countries capable of producing comprehensive telecom solutions.

The Union Minister additionally shared details regarding the government’s initiatives for 6G technology, stating that India aims to be at the forefront globally in this area.

In late 2022 and early 2023, the Prime Minister initiated the Bharat 6G Alliance (BG6A), which unites equipment makers, telecommunications companies, internet service providers, Indian Institutes of Technology, and scholars with the aim of ensuring India’s contribution reaches at least 10% towards international 6G standards (IMT-3GPP 6G). We have 100
5G
Testbeds for 6G and the collaboration of the ‘Bharat 6G Alliance’ with their global partners from countries like the United States, Germany, South Korea, European Union, and the United Kingdom were key focuses. While we kept an eye on advancements in 4G globally, we moved forward alongside the world during this transition to 5G.
5G
However, we will be at the forefront of developing 6G technology.
Jyotiraditya Scindia
said.

The Minister also addressed satellite communications, noting that it expands the options accessible to consumers. He mentioned that satellite technology can facilitate connections in distant regions where establishing towers is not feasible.

“In order to thrive, we must consistently remain at the forefront. With satellite technology now available, my role as Telecom Minister leads me to view it as an enhancement rather than merely competition. These satellites offer significant benefits: they facilitate connections in isolated regions where establishing towers or installing fiber optic cables is unfeasible; additionally, during natural calamities when traditional networks falter, satellite communications become indispensable. Thus, from my perspective, this technology broadens customer options,” he stated.

Jyotiraditya Scindia
indicated that in the realm of satellite operations, the government has issued licenses.
Reliance
and
Bharti Airtel
.

We have shifted from GEO to LEO and MEO, providing reduced latency and increased bandwidth. We have already issued licenses for this.
Reliance
and
Bharti Airtel
Several additional firms have submitted their applications. As mentioned earlier, our approach is straightforward: meet all requirements, obtain spectrum allocation, commence operations—India is ready to do business,” he stated. (ANI)