India’s telecom infrastructure ecosystem expanded significantly in 2025, driven by rapid tower and fibre deployments, renewed momentum in rural broadband programmes, and a stronger focus on indoor coverage in public infrastructure. Meanwhile, international connectivity received a major impetus with several new high-capacity subsea cable systems landing in India and progressing towards commercial readiness, thereby improving route diversity and long-haul bandwidth availability.
A key theme throughout the year was execution at scale. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) 4G expansion, with a future-ready path to 5G through upgrades, helped provide coverage across several underserved pockets, while private operators and tower companies continued to strengthen their shared passive infrastructure layer that underpins India’s mobile networks. Alongside this, the government made efforts to streamline right-of-way (RoW) approvals through uniform rules and portal-based processes, thereby reducing friction that has historically slowed fibre deployment and densification projects.
As the sector enters 2026, the future direction is becoming clearer. Towercos are moving beyond pure roll-outs to focus on improving network quality, with higher fiberisation, readiness for small cells in dense urban pockets, and stronger in-building coverage models across public infrastructure such as metros and airports. At the same time, the outlook for fibre deployments is strengthening as the government’s National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0 sets sharper targets for village and anchor institution connectivity. Meanwhile, the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) is moving intensely toward execution, with states increasingly backing it through local broadband initiatives, by-law changes and smoother RoW implementation.
A look at key telecom infrastructure developments in 2025 and the way forward in 2025 and the way ahead…
Tower and fibre gain fresh momentum
Tower infrastructure expansion
India sustained a strong pace of telecom infrastructure creation in 2025 to support 4G expansion as well as the build-out of 5G networks. As of October 31, 2025, the total number of mobile towers stood at over 0.84 million, while the number of mobile base transceiver stations (BTSs) reached 3.14 million.
5G roll-outs continued to expand, although the month-on-month pace reduced later in the year. India added 4,112 new 5G BTSs in December 2025, lower than the 6,443 additions in September 2025. However, the country achieved a major milestone as total 5G BTS deployments crossed the 500,000 mark nationwide.
BSNL remained a major driver of fresh tower activity as it accelerated its long-delayed 4G network expansion using domestically developed technology. By July 2025, BSNL had installed around 94,500 4G towers, with plans to reach 100,000 sites as part of its wider roll-out strategy. Importantly, this expansion also moved into difficult and underserved regions, including the installation of a tower in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh and the preparation of additional deployments across left-wing extremism-affected districts.
The Chhattisgarh government approved 5,000 new mobile towers to strengthen coverage in remote and tribal regions, complementing central initiatives in the state. Meanwhile, Indus Towers deployed 180 towers in Prayagraj ahead of Kumbh Mela-related demand, highlighting the role of temporary and event-driven infrastructure planning in high-footfall locations.
Fibre network expansion and BharatNet
Alongside towers, India’s fibre footprint continued to expand in 2025, reflecting the growing need for dense backhaul to support higher mobile data usage and network quality improvements. Optical fibre cable (OFC) length increased from 1.93 million route km (rkm) in 2019 to 4.23 million rkm as of September 2025. Several fibre initiatives gained visibility during the year. An emerging focus area has been fibre deployment along highways to improve corridor connectivity and support tower fiberisation across transport networks. Under this direction, Telecommunications Consultants India Limited and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited moved ahead with planning for highway-linked fibre infrastructure in the Northeast, with the proposed programme spanning 5,884 km across the region.
The Goa government rolled out a plan to extend high speed internet access across households through expanded fibre-led last-mile networks, strengthening the state’s universal broadband ambition. To reduce repeated trenching and speed up deployment, the government also promoted the common duct approach. Meanwhile, the Department of Telecommunications urged the Chandigarh administration to include shareable telecom ducts as part of new linear infrastructure projects such as roads and other utilities, so that multiple networks can be laid with fewer road cuts and lower overall disruption.
Further, BharatNet remained the backbone of rural broadband creation through 2025. The programme, through its Phases I and II, covered 222,341 gram panchayats, of which 214,904 are service-ready as per the latest data shared by the Ministry of Communications (MoC). The government also kept the upgraded execution model in focus under the ABP (Phase III), with an approved outlay of Rs 1.39 trillion and a completion timeline of 36 months from agreement signing.
RoW reforms enable faster roll-outs
RoW remained one of the key enablers of network deployment in 2025, as it directly affects fibre roll-outs and tower installations. A major shift came with the Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024, effective January 1, 2025, which promoted uniform adoption and portal-based processing. The rules placed strong emphasis on time-bound permissions, capped charges and end-to-end processing through the GatiShakti Sanchar portal.
A practical advantage of the new framework is that it recognises modern deployment needs, including provisions linked to small cell deployments on street infrastructure, which are increasingly relevant for improving 5G coverage quality in dense zones. Infrastructure providers have consistently positioned this as a step towards predictable execution, especially in a market where local levies and varied approval timelines have historically introduced uncertainty.
However, even with the improved policy structure, frictions persisted on the ground, particularly where large public infrastructure owners controlled access to sites and internal infrastructure. These disagreements reinforced a key industry concern: formal rules alone are not enough unless implementation across municipal and
project authorities becomes consistent and aligned with the principle of fair access for licensed telecom service providers.
NBM 2.0 launch
Building on RoW reforms, the government introduced a broader execution road map for broadband expansion under the NBM 2.0 on January 17, 2025, signalling a renewed interest in scaling up high speed broadband and improving connectivity outcomes nationwide. Aligned with the government’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the mission aims to expand optical fibre connectivity to 270,000 villages by 2030 with 95 per cent uptime, while extending broadband access to 90 per cent of anchor institutions such as schools, primary health centres, anganwadi centres and panchayat offices. It also targets an improvement in fixed broadband performance, with the national average download speed planned to reach at least 100 Mbps by 2030.
NBM 2.0 also places emphasis on better planning and execution by aiming for 100 per cent mapping of fibre networks owned by government PSUs by 2026 on the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan platform, which will be used for future network planning, including any additional BharatNet work. On the ease-of-doing-business front, it seeks to reduce average RoW disposal timelines, increase rural internet penetration and scale up sustainability efforts, with a target of powering 30 per cent of mobile towers through sustainable energy by 2030. Importantly, the mission underlines coordinated implementation across ministries, states, union territories and municipal bodies
to ensure the effective adoption of the Telecommunications (RoW) Rules, 2024, notified under the Telecommunications
Act, 2023.
In-building solutions move up the priority list
Indoor coverage emerged as a major telecom infrastructure priority in 2025, especially in airports, metro systems, large commercial spaces and high-density public areas where user experience depends heavily on in-building network readiness. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) reinforced this by advancing its Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity framework, highlighting that a significant share of mobile usage happens indoors and that modern buildings should embed digital connectivity planning as part of core design.
In August 2025, TRAI issued the final Digital Connectivity Rating manual, and started registering digital connectivity rating agencies to audit properties and assign star ratings based on parameters such as in-building signal quality, fibre readiness and supporting infrastructure. This framework also created a pathway for state governments and urban bodies to integrate digital connectivity measures into building by-laws, shifting indoor coverage from an afterthought to a measurable lever for compliance and competitiveness.
However, at the project level, the year saw visible friction around the neutral host versus direct telco deployment question. At Noida International Airport, private telcos sought permission to deploy in-building systems directly, citing legal and fair-access concerns linked to how connectivity infrastructure is provisioned in public sites. A similar debate played out around Mumbai Metro Line 3’s underground coverage model, where operators and industry associations raised concerns on governance, licensing interpretation and the economics of allowing exclusive vendor-led arrangements for public transport corridors. At the same time, some metro authorities moved towards more collaborative deployment approaches, where multi-operator readiness and coordinated implementation were treated as essential for the commuter experience rather than a secondary add-on.
Update on PM-WANI
Public Wi-Fi also stayed relevant in 2025, with the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) continuing to expand as a last-mile access layer.
One notable update was TRAI’s tariff move to strengthen the PM-WANI ecosystem by requiring fixed broadband plans of up to 200 Mbps to be made available to public data offices (PDOs) at affordable rates, improving backhaul accessibility for Wi-Fi hotspots.
As per official data shared by the MoC, the number of PM-WANI PDOs on-boarded stood at 391,599 (as of November 26, 2025). This reinforced Wi-Fi’s continued relevance in public access use cases, particularly in dense public zones where indoor connectivity constraints and last-mile gaps remain persistent.
Subsea cables strengthen global links
India’s international connectivity ecosystem witnessed significant movement in 2025, with major subsea cable landings and system upgrades helping create greater capacity and route diversity. In February 2025, Bharti Airtel landed the SEA-ME-WE 6 system in Chennai, completing the dual landing in India. The system spans around 21,700 km and is designed to add up to 220 Tbps of capacity, strengthening connectivity
between India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Then, in March 2025, Airtel also announced the landing of 2Africa
Pearls in Mumbai, linked to the broader 2Africa cable ecosystem. The system is among the longest global cable projects, with the broader 2Africa network spanning around 45,000 km, and is positioned to deliver over 100 Tbps connectivity capacity to support rising traffic demand.
Reliance Jio’s India-Asia-Xpress system also progressed, with the Sri Lanka branch becoming active in partnership with Dialog Axiata, indicating increasing readiness for wider service enablement. In June 2025, Tata Communications strengthened its intra-Asia routes with the launch of TGN-IA2, built with the Asia Direct Cable consortium and integrated into its global network fabric.
Beyond private investment, government interest in cable landing infrastructure surfaced more strongly. The Gujarat government issued an expression of interest linked to cable landing station development, reflecting the growing recognition that landing infrastructure can play a role in regional digital competitiveness and network redundancy. All these additions improved route diversity and strengthened India’s ability to manage rising international traffic demand.
States’ initiatives to accelerate digital infrastructure creation
States played a more visible role in shaping telecom infrastructure expansion through 2025, either by funding deployments in difficult regions or by changing local regulations to make connectivity infrastructure easier to provision. The Delhi government upgraded network infrastructure at the Delhi Secretariat, including a refreshed local area network and expanded public Wi-Fi coverage. Further, the Jammu & Kashmir High Court awarded RailTel a contract to modernise its IT network, reflecting growing reliance on central PSUs for secure
connectivity upgrades.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government took a regulatory step towards indoor readiness by amending building rules to make telecom infrastructure provisions mandatory in new constructions, aligning with TRAI’s increasing focus on in-building solutions and property-level connectivity benchmarks.
Green telecom shifts from intent to action
Sustainability became more prominent in India’s telecom infrastructure agenda during 2025, as tower companies and equipment manufacturers focused on reducing the dependence on fossil fuel and improving energy efficiency. Telecom infrastructure has traditionally relied heavily on grid power and diesel for backup, making renewable procurement and cleaner energy solutions increasingly important for both cost and climate goals.
Indus Towers expanded its renewable energy approach during the year, including a 26 per cent investment in Amplus Energy Solutions as part of its shift towards cleaner energy sourcing and long-term sustainability planning. Indus Towers also piloted electric vehicle charging at select tower locations, reflecting how sustainability is increasingly being linked to efficiency and new infrastructure-led revenue opportunities.
On the manufacturing side, Sterlite Technologies increased the use of green hydrogen to decarbonise optical fibre production by commissioning a green hydrogen facility to support operations at its glass preform plant. This development demonstrates that telecom’s green transition is not limited to network operations, but is also extending across the supply chain that supports India’s broader fibre and connectivity build-out.
The way ahead
As the initial rush of 5G roll-outs slows down, the telecom infrastructure sector is expected to shift from expanding into new areas to strengthening existing networks. In 2026, towercos are likely to focus more on densification, especially through small cells and street furniture, to improve signal quality in crowded urban pockets. This shift will also drive fiberisation, with fibre becoming more common not just for long routes but also for last-mile backhaul to handle rising data demand.
Policy implementation will play a bigger role in shaping outcomes in 2026. While the RoW framework is now clearer, issues emerging at airports and metro corridors show that enforcement will matter more than rule-making. Industry bodies are expected to strongly promote fair access to public infrastructure, ensuring that shared connectivity models work smoothly across transport hubs and large commercial spaces.
As a result, the neutral host model for indoor coverage may see tighter oversight and better defined terms to ensure it remains workable for all operators.
Similarly, rural connectivity is expected to progress from basic coverage to more reliable service delivery. With BSNL expanding its 4G footprint and the ABP progressing, more villages are expected to get stable broadband access, creating stronger demand for digital services in smaller towns and remote regions. Meanwhile, sustainability is set to become more closely linked to cost savings, as renewable energy becomes a practical tool for reducing diesel dependence and protecting operating margins.
Shashwat Singh
