India’s telecom industry has achieved landmark progress during 2024-2025, positioning itself as a global leader in connectivity, digital innovation, and indigenous technology. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, and the Ministry of Communications, the sector has seen a transformative year of reforms, heightened rural connectivity, and breakthrough policy measures that set benchmarks for the world to follow.
BSNL’s Financial Revival and Indigenous Technology Breakthrough
A standout milestone was BSNL’s return to profitability after 18 years, with operational profits of ₹262 crore in Q3 and ₹280 crore in Q4 of FY2024-25. BSNL’s EBITDA tripled to ₹5,395 crore—annual losses reduced to ₹2,400 crore from ₹5,400 crore—reflecting robust reform and leadership.
Crucially, India launched its fully indigenous 4G stack, becoming the fifth nation globally with in-house telecom technology. This advancement bolsters India’s technological sovereignty and lays the foundation for next-generation 5G and 6G deployments.
Massive Expansion in Rural & Remote Connectivity
The government’s “100% telecom saturation” mission saw rapid progress, with 13,000 of 17,000 targeted towers installed in one year.
Key highlights include:
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Aspirational districts: 81% coverage achieved
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Left-Wing Extremism regions: 57% coverage in Phase I, rising to 87% in Phase II
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Island territories: Coverage jumped from 38% to 84%
Tele-density has reached 86.09% nationwide; rural subscribers now comprise 59.43% as of June 2025. India’s broadband subscriptions surged to ~945 million, and wireless data usage reached 65,009 Petabytes in recent quarters—reinforcing India’s top-three ranking in global mobile data consumption.
Global Footprint and Cybersecurity Achievement
India strengthened its global presence by leading initiatives at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), expanding satellite communications, and earning Tier-1 ranking in cybersecurity.
AI-powered tools like ASTR disconnected over 82 lakh fraudulent connections and protected users from financial scams worth nearly ₹200 crore. The Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) now links over 750 government and private entities for real-time anti-fraud collaboration. This robust framework sets new international standards for telecom security and governance.
Policy Reforms and Modern Governance
Landmark reforms include:
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Monthly quality reporting for service providers, ensuring <2% call drop rates and sub-50ms latency by April 2026
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Single-window clearance portal: Reduced right-of-way approval time from 448 days (2019) to just 33 days (2025)
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TRAI’s directive for public mapping of telecom towers to uphold transparency
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Performance accountability: BSNL Chief General Managers now act as CEOs, with quarterly target reviews
The Telecom PLI Scheme fostered local manufacturing, generating over 22,000 jobs in 2024 alone. India’s mobile exports in CY24 reached ₹1,75,665 crore ($20.5 billion), confirming its position as the world’s third-largest mobile exporter.
Innovations, Inclusion, and Universal Digital Access
India’s telecom sector continued its journey towards universal digital inclusion, with special schemes for left-wing extremism regions, islands, and remote districts ensuring equitable access. The BharatNet and PM-WANI initiatives have bridged the last-mile digital divide.
Rapid 5G rollout and investments in 6G and AI-driven networks have further enhanced user experience and set a strong trajectory for future growth.
Conclusion
The achievements of India’s telecom sector in 2024-2025 reflect a unified push for connectivity, innovation, transparency, and global leadership. With indigenous technology breakthroughs, deepened rural coverage, and robust policy reform, India is set to inspire the world as a model for inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking digital transformation.
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Source: PIB
