12 March 2026·PIB

Status of 5G Rollout

In this note

1. At a Glance

5G = fifth-generation cellular tech offering peak speeds ~10 Gbps, ultra-low latency (~1 ms) and massive machine-type connectivity — enabling IoT, smart manufacturing, telemedicine, precision agriculture [1].
Rolled out commercially in India on 1 October 2022; now blanketing 99.9% of districts and all States/UTs — among the world's fastest national 5G deployments [1][3].
Examinable across GS-III (Sci-Tech, infrastructure, indigenisation) and GS-II (Digital governance, e-services).

PIB release, 12 March 2026: MoS Communications Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar informed Rajya Sabha that 5.23 lakh 5G BTS are operational as on 28.02.2026, covering 99.9% of districts; DoT outlined initiatives to deepen 5G use-cases and prepare for 6G [1].
Coincides with Tele-density milestone — 86.76% [3] — and 2025 DoT Year-End Review flagging Bharat 6G Mission progress [2].

2018: TRAI recommendations on spectrum for IMT/5G; National Digital Communications Policy 2018 set 5G targets.
2020: 5G trials approved; Chinese vendors (Huawei, ZTE) effectively excluded via Trusted Source norms (NSCS, Jun 2021).
Jul 2022 — 8th Spectrum Auction: 51,236 MHz sold across 10 bands (600 MHz–26 GHz); gross bids ₹1,50,173 crore [4].
1 Oct 2022: PM Modi launched 5G services at India Mobile Congress.
Mar 2023: Bharat 6G Vision document released — India to be a frontline 6G contributor by 2030 [6].
Jul 2023: Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) launched by DoT [5].
2024 Spectrum Auction (9th): re-farming of expiring 5G/4G bands.
Telecommunications Act, 2023 replaced Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 — governs spectrum, network rollout.

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Communications → Department of Telecommunications (DoT) [1].
Statutory base: Telecommunications Act, 2023; spectrum allocation governed via auctions under TRAI Act, 1997 framework.
5G BTS installed (28.02.2026): 5,23,000 [1]; (31.10.2025): 5,08,000 [2].
District coverage: 99.9%; Population coverage: 85% [2].
Spectrum auctioned (Jul 2022): 51,236 MHz, ₹1,50,173 cr; bands 600/700/800/900/1800/2100/2300/2500/3300 MHz & 26 GHz mmWave [4].
B6GA grant under TTDF: ₹240.51 crore for 6G THz testbed & advance optical communication testbed [5].
Use-case priorities: telemedicine, precision agriculture, smart manufacturing, education [1].

Economic

Telecom contributes ~6.5% of GDP; 5G expected to add USD 450 bn to Indian economy by 2035 (industry estimates).
PLI scheme for Telecom & Networking products (₹12,195 cr) catalysing indigenous gear (Akashvani, BSNL 4G/5G stack by TCS-C-DOT) [2].

Scientific / Technological

BSNL's indigenous 4G stack (TCS-C-DOT) being upgraded to 5G — first sovereign full-stack rollout outside China/US/EU [2].
Bharat 6G Vision: targets terahertz spectrum, AI-native networks, OAM multiplexing R&D [5][6].

Geopolitical / Strategic

"Trusted Source" regime excludes Chinese OEMs; aligns with US-led Clean Network, Quad critical-tech track.
India entered ITU-R standardisation forums; B6GA partners with EU Hexa-X, US Next-G Alliance.

Administrative / Governance

Right of Way (RoW) Rules 2022 amended to streamline tower/fibre permissions; states laggards remain bottlenecks.
PM Gati Shakti integration for telecom infra mapping.

Social

Digital-divide risk: rural mmWave coverage thin; 5G Fixed Wireless Access (Jio AirFiber, Airtel Xstream) substituting fibre in tier-3/rural.

12 Mar 2026 — PIB: 5.23 lakh BTS, 99.9% districts covered; DoT to push 5G in telemedicine/agri/manufacturing/edu [1].
2025 DoT Year-End Review: 5.08 lakh BTS (Oct 2025); 85% population coverage; BSNL indigenous 4G stack scaled; 6G testbeds funded [2].
Tele-density 86.76% reported by DoT [3].
B6GA signed projects for 6G THz Testbed with OAM Multiplexing and Advance Optical Communication Testbed under TTDF [5].

5G commercially launched in India on 1 October 2022 at India Mobile Congress.
As on 28.02.2026: 5.23 lakh 5G BTS installed [1].
5G now available in 99.9% of districts; all States/UTs [1].
Population coverage of 5G: 85% [2].
Tele-density: 86.76% [3].
8th Spectrum Auction (Jul 2022) garnered ₹1,50,173 crore; 10 bands incl. 26 GHz mmWave [4].
Bharat 6G Vision document released March 2023; goal — frontline 6G contributor by 2030 [6].
Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) launched by DoT in 2023 [5].
TTDF grant ₹240.51 crore for two 6G projects (THz testbed; optical comms) [5].
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Communications (DoT) — not MeitY [1].
Governing law: Telecommunications Act, 2023 (replaced Indian Telegraph Act, 1885).
5G use-cases promoted: telemedicine, precision agriculture, smart manufacturing, education [1].

GS-III — Science & Tech (indigenisation, 6G); Infrastructure; Economy (digital growth).
GS-II — Government policies (PLI, RoW reforms); e-governance.
Probable stems: 1. "India's 5G rollout has been among the fastest globally, yet faces challenges of monetisation and indigenisation. Examine." (GS-III) 2. "Discuss how the Bharat 6G Vision positions India in the global telecom standard-setting landscape." (GS-III) 3. "Evaluate the Telecommunications Act, 2023 in enabling next-generation network deployment." (GS-II/III)

Telecommunications Act, 2023 — replaces 1885 framework; governs 5G spectrum.
PLI for Telecom & Networking Products — indigenisation linkage.
Bharat 6G Vision & TTDF — R&D funding under USOF/DBN.
TRAI — regulator, spectrum pricing recommendations.
PM Gati Shakti — infra mapping incl. towers/fibre.
National Digital Communications Policy 2018 — predecessor target document.
Semiconductor Mission (ISM) — supplies chips for 5G gear.
Right of Way Rules 2022 — implementation enabler.

Ministry confusion: DoT under Ministry of Communications, not MeitY.
5G launched 2022, not 2021 (trials were 2021).
Bharat 6G Vision (Mar 2023) ≠ Bharat 6G Alliance (Jul 2023) — distinct.
26 GHz is mmWave band; lower bands (3.3 GHz) are mid-band — both auctioned in 2022, not separately.
"Tele-density 86.76%" is wireless tele-density at national level; rural tele-density remains far lower (~60%).