A year-end review released by the Ministry of Communications underscored unprecedented gains in internet and mobile penetration, the rapid nationwide rollout of 5G services and major progress in the development of indigenous telecom technologies. One of the most notable milestones during the year was the launch of National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0, aimed at fast-tracking India’s digital transformation. The mission seeks to extend high-speed broadband connectivity to villages, schools, healthcare centres and other anchor institutions, in line with the government’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047.
India’s telecom footprint expanded sharply over the year. Internet connections crossed the one-billion threshold to exceed 1 billion, reflecting a nearly fourfold rise since 2014.
Broadband subscriptions climbed to nearly 1 billion, while average monthly data usage per wireless subscriber surged to 24 GB, placing India among the world’s highest data consumers. Median mobile broadband speeds also recorded a significant increase, reaching over 130 megabits per second (Mbps) by October 2025.
Further, the rollout of 5G emerged as a defining achievement.
According to the review, 5G services are now available across all states and union territories, covering 99.9 per cent of districts and reaching around 85 per cent of the population. Telecom service providers have deployed more than 0.5 million 5G base transceiver stations nationwide.
Complementing this network expansion, optical fibre cable length has more than doubled since 2019, substantially strengthening back-end digital infrastructure.
Rural connectivity witnessed particularly robust growth. Rural telephone connections rose by nearly 43 per cent since 2014, almost twice the pace seen in urban areas, highlighting the sector’s role in narrowing the digital divide.
The overall tele-density also increased to 86.65 per cent by September 2025.
A major highlight of the year was India becoming only the fifth country globally to develop an indigenous 4G technology stack.
Developed through collaboration between Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), Tejas Networks and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and deployed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the home-grown network is fully software-driven and capable of being upgraded to 5G.
Additionally, the year-end review noted steady progress under the Bharat 6G Mission, positioning India as an active participant in shaping future global telecom standards.
Citizen-focused reforms and cyber-security initiatives also featured prominently in 2025. The Sanchar Saathi portal and mobile application saw wide adoption, aiding efforts to trace and block fraudulent connections and recover stolen devices. The Sanchar Saathi mobile app, available in Hindi, English and 21 regional languages, recorded over 15 million downloads, while the portal logged 220 million visitors, according to the review.
The newly introduced financial fraud risk indicator, now integrated with banking systems, helped avert financial losses of about Rs 4.5 billion by flagging more than 0.7 million suspicious transactions.
The DoT also played a key role in maintaining resilient communications during natural disasters and security-related situations across several states. Indigenous cell broadcasting technology was successfully deployed to deliver real-time alerts during cyclones, marking a significant advancement in public warning systems.
On the manufacturing side, the Production Linked Incentive scheme for telecom equipment delivered strong outcomes, with cumulative sales exceeding Rs 960 billion and exports surpassing Rs 190 billion. Taken together, these developments reinforce India’s shift from being primarily a telecom consumer to emerging as a global digital and innovation leader.
