BSNL is upgrading its existing sites by deploying indigenous 4G stacks

1. At a Glance

• BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, PSU under DoT, Ministry of Communications) is deploying a fully indigenous, 5G-upgradable 4G network of one lakh sites across India under Atmanirbhar Bharat [S1][S2].
• Tech stack: Core by C-DOT, RAN by Tejas Networks, system integration by TCS — placing India among five countries with a wholly home-grown 4G stack [S2][S3].
• Examinable angles: Atmanirbhar Bharat in telecom, Digital Bharat Nidhi (formerly USOF), bridging the digital divide, 4G saturation of uncovered villages, 5G/6G roadmap.

2. Why in the News

• PIB release dated 05 Feb 2026 stated 97,672 sites installed and 95,511 on-air as on 15.01.2026; BSNL customer base rose from 8.86 cr (Mar 2024) to 9.28 cr (Dec 2025) [S1].
• PM Modi inaugurated the Indigenous 4G Stack and "One Lakh Indigenous BSNL Towers" event in 2025 [S3].
• Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia declared "100% 4G saturation in sight" via Digital Bharat Nidhi [S2].

3. Background & Evolution

• 2022 (Cabinet, 27 Jul 2022): Approved 4G Saturation Project for uncovered villages at ₹26,316 cr (capex + 5-yr opex), funded by USOF [S4].
• Sep 2023: Supply of indigenous 4G equipment commenced [S1].
• 2024–25: Phased commissioning; Kerala Circle launched indigenous 4G + e-SIM [S3].
• 2025: PM inaugurates pan-India indigenous network; 5G upgrade pathway announced [S3].
• Jan 2026: ~97.6k sites installed, ~95.5k on-air [S1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Parent Ministry: Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) [S1].
• Implementing PSU: BSNL (incorporated 1 Oct 2000) [S1].
• Tech consortium: C-DOT (core) + Tejas Networks (RAN) + TCS (integrator/lead) [S2].
• Order size: 1,00,000 4G sites pan-India [S1].
• Project funding for rural saturation: ₹26,316 cr under USOF/Digital Bharat Nidhi [S4].
• Villages connected under 4G saturation: ~29,000 [S2].
• Andhra Pradesh status (15.01.2026): 6,108 installed / 6,045 on-air [S1].
• Customer base: 9.28 crore (Dec 2025) [S1].
• Technology evolution: equipment is 5G upgradable; 6G targeted by 2030 [S1][S2].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic / Industrial - First large-scale public procurement of a homegrown telecom stack — anchors a domestic telecom equipment ecosystem against Huawei/Ericsson/Nokia dominance [S2][S3]. - Synergy with PLI for Telecom & Networking Products and Semicon India for chip-to-stack sovereignty (contextual).

Scientific / Technological - C-DOT-developed 4G Core is cloud-native, enabling software upgrade to 5G NSA/SA without forklift hardware replacement [S2]. - Positions India as the 5th country with end-to-end 4G IP [S2].

Social / Equity - 4G Saturation Project targets uncovered villages (NE, LWE, aspirational districts) — bridges digital divide, enables DBT, telemedicine, e-governance [S4]. - Migration of legacy 3G subscribers to 4G ensures service continuity [S1].

Strategic / Security - Indigenous stack reduces dependence on foreign vendors flagged under National Security Directive on Telecom Sector (2021) "Trusted Sources" regime (contextual). - Critical for resilient communications in border/strategic regions.

Administrative - Execution via EPC (TCS-led) consortium; capex + 5-year opex bundled — novel PSU procurement model [S4]. - Federal angle: spectrum centrally allocated, rollout via state-wise BSNL circles [S1].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• Oct 2024: Kerala Circle launches indigenous 4G + e-SIM [S3].
• 2025 (PM event): Inauguration of indigenous 4G stack and 1-lakh-tower milestone [S3].
• 05 Feb 2026 (PIB): Status report — 97,672 installed, 95,511 on-air; customer base 9.28 cr [S1].
• Announced roadmap: Upgrade of Swadeshi 4G to 5G; 6G by 2030 [S2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• BSNL is under Ministry of Communications, not MeitY [S1].
• Indigenous 4G Core developed by C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics) [S2].
• Radio Access Network (RAN) supplied by Tejas Networks (Tata group) [S2].
• System integrator: TCS [S2].
• Indigenous 4G supply began September 2023 [S1].
• 4G Saturation Project outlay: ₹26,316 cr, approved by Cabinet in July 2022 [S4].
• Funding source: Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) — renamed Digital Bharat Nidhi under Telecommunications Act, 2023 [S2][S4].
• BSNL customer base: 9.28 crore as of Dec 2025 [S1].
• Equipment is 5G upgradable — same hardware, software upgrade path [S1].
• India became the 5th country with end-to-end indigenous 4G stack [S2].
• Total order: 1 lakh sites pan-India [S1].
• ~29,000 villages connected under 4G saturation [S2].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III — Science & Technology; Indigenisation of Technology; Infrastructure (Telecom).
• GS-II — Government policies for vulnerable sections (rural digital divide); Welfare schemes.
• Probable stems: 1. "Indigenous 4G stack deployment by BSNL marks a paradigm shift in India's telecom self-reliance. Discuss its strategic and economic significance." (GS-III) 2. "Evaluate the role of Digital Bharat Nidhi in bridging the rural-urban digital divide." (GS-II) 3. "Examine how public-sector-led indigenous technology stacks can complement private 5G rollout in India." (GS-III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Telecommunications Act, 2023 — replaces 1885 Telegraph Act; creates Digital Bharat Nidhi.
• C-DOT — autonomous R&D body under DoT (est. 1984).
• PLI Scheme for Telecom & Networking Products — industrial complement.
• National Broadband Mission / BharatNet — rural fibre backbone for 4G sites.
• 5G Spectrum Auction 2022 & Bharat 6G Vision (2023) — technology continuum.
• National Security Directive on Telecom Sector (2021) — "Trusted Telecom Products" framework.
• TRAI — sectoral regulator.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat & Semicon India — broader industrial-policy frame.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• BSNL falls under DoT/Min. of Communications, NOT MeitY or Min. of Electronics.
• The core is C-DOT's; the RAN is Tejas Networks'; TCS is integrator, not the sole developer.
• USOF ≠ defunct — it has been renamed Digital Bharat Nidhi under the Telecom Act 2023.
• 4G Saturation Project (₹26,316 cr) is distinct from the 1-lakh-site indigenous deployment order, though overlapping in execution.
• BSNL's stack is 5G-upgradable, not "already 5G" — commercial 5G rollout is a separate phase.

11. Sources

• [S1] BSNL is upgrading its existing sites by deploying indigenous 4G stacks (PIB, 05 Feb 2026) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2223942 — (tier 1)
• [S2] "Digital Connectivity Driving Inclusive Development; 100% 4G Saturation in Sight": Scindia (PIB) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2226566 — (tier 1)
• [S3] PM Modi inaugurates Indigenous 4G Stack and One Lakh Indigenous BSNL Towers (PIB) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2172167 — (tier 1)
• [S4] Cabinet approves project for 4G saturation in uncovered villages at ₹26,316 cr (PIB, 2022) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1845427 — (tier 1)