New Delhi: India added 4,144 new 5G base transceiver stations (BTS) in October 2025, bringing the total number of 5G sites across the country to 508,732, according to data released by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
The pace of deployment slowed compared to September, when over 6,400 BTS were added, taking the cumulative count then to 504,588.
Even as private telecom operators expand their networks, state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is gaining attention for its indigenous 4G rollout. The DoT recently highlighted on social media how BSNL’s “Swadeshi 4G” is helping bridge the digital divide in rural India. “Farming, education, treatment, or employment – BSNL, with its indigenous 4G, is making everything easier,” the DoT said in a post on X.
BSNL is now preparing for the next phase of expansion under a new operational expenditure (Opex) model. The company has floated a tender to deploy up to 10,000 new 4G sites without purchasing the equipment outright.
The public sector operator is also advancing plans for its 5G Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) in Delhi, with commercial rollout expected early next year. Meanwhile, private telcos are gradually revising tariffs, either through direct price hikes or by reducing plan validity periods, signalling more price adjustments in the coming months as 5G services scale up nationwide.
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