Tag: Swadeshi 4G

TechPulse

India Goes Self-Reliant in Digital Connectivity: BSNL Powers Indigenous Internet Backbone

Tanisha Cardozo

India has officially ceased importing internet bandwidth from Bangladesh, marking a landmark achievement in its journey towards digital self-reliance. Until recently, bandwidth from Bangladesh helped support internet services in India’s Northeastern states. Now, that role is being fully taken over by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), through its 100% indigenous Swadeshi 4G network infrastructure.

This strategic shift is part of the government’s larger vision under the 4G Saturation Project, which aims to bring high-speed internet access to every village and remote area in India. BSNL has already begun strengthening digital connectivity across the Northeast, ensuring critical infrastructure is powered by domestic capabilities. This not only bolsters national security and technological independence but also reduces reliance on foreign telecom resources.

Nationwide, BSNL is making massive strides. It plans to upgrade over 92,500 indigenously developed 4G towers to 5G within the next six to eight months. With these upgrades, BSNL is positioned to compete alongside private telecom giants, but with a unique focus on public service, rural access, and national interest.

What makes this transition even more significant is BSNL’s remarkable financial turnaround. From years of losses, the state-run telecom provider is now back in profit and rapidly expanding its services. Its 4G rollout has already begun at scale and is being recognized as a technological milestone for India.

The halt of internet bandwidth imports and BSNL’s indigenous push signal a broader shift in India’s digital story — one where connectivity is built, managed, and scaled within the country. With domestic infrastructure powering everything from mobile data to rural broadband, India is building a future where digital access is sovereign, secure, and self-made.

TechPulse

BSNL Launches Intelligent Swadeshi 4G Network, Connecting 26,700 More Villages

Tanisha Cardozo

In a historic move underscoring India’s digital transformation and technological self-reliance, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) launched its indigenous 4G network on September 27, 2025, powered by the collaborative effort of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), and Tejas Networks. This state-of-the-art solution, known as the Bharat Telecom Stack, has been fully conceptualized, developed, and deployed in India, reflecting the core values of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The launch marks a significant technological achievement, making India one of only five nations worldwide to possess a fully indigenous telecom technology stack capable of delivering 4G and paving the way for future networks. With this launch, more than 26,700 additional villages are now digitally connected, giving millions of citizens access to essential services like e-learning, e-governance, telemedicine, and online banking.

TCS led the deployment of the end-to-end network architecture in mission mode, establishing data centers, integrating C-DOT’s EPC Core Application, deploying Tejas Networks’ radio access network (RAN) infrastructure, and using TCS Cognitive Network Operations (CNOPS™) for continuous, intelligent network monitoring.

The speed and scale of this deployment have been unprecedented. Within just two years, the teams successfully installed and commissioned over 100,000 telecom sites, achieving full integration with BSNL’s existing 2G and 3G infrastructure. This rapid rollout strengthens national telecom security and enables rural populations to benefit from next-generation connectivity.

“This nationwide rollout of our indigenous 4G network is a monumental achievement for national pride,” said Sh. A Robert J Ravi, Chairman and Managing Director of BSNL. “It secures our digital future and ensures that connectivity empowers every citizen, bridging the digital divide like never before.”

Echoing this sentiment, Sh. Sandeep Govil, Director (Consumer Mobility) at BSNL, added, “This Swadeshi 4G technology, the result of tireless innovation by C-DOT, Tejas, and TCS, is engineered for scalability and ready for the leap to 5G. It will become the cornerstone for building a digitally inclusive society.”

N. Ganapathy Subramaniam, Advisor – Telecom Strategic Initiatives at TCS and Chairman of Tejas Networks, called the deployment “historic and significant,” noting that the Bharat Telecom Stack, compliant with 3GPP standards, lays a strong foundation for India’s future contributions to global telecom innovations.

This milestone adds another chapter to TCS’s six-decade legacy of enabling large-scale nation-building programs. From transforming passport services to digitizing pension systems and public sector services, TCS continues to build the digital public infrastructure that touches nearly every citizen in the country.

The Swadeshi 4G rollout is not just a technological upgrade—it is a strategic leap for India’s digital sovereignty, bridging rural-urban gaps and ensuring that the digital revolution reaches even the most remote corners of the nation.