New Delhi : In a big push towards Digital India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) ‘Swadeshi’ 4G network from Jharsuguda, Odisha, marking a significant step for the country’s telecommunications sector. Officials described the development as a key milestone in expanding digital connectivity and fostering rural empowerment, reported news agency PTI.
The rollout of the ‘swadeshi’ 4G network is a transformative step in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India, bridging the digital divide and empowering rural communities, while paving the way for BSNL’s 5G upgrade and integration,” an official statement said, adding, This will serve over 20 lakh new subscribers. Alongside the launch, PM Modi commissioned more than 97,500 mobile 4G towers built by BSNL, including 92,600 sites featuring the new 4G technology.
The towers, established at a cost of around Rs 37,000 crore, use entirely indigenous technology, positioning India among a select group of nations with domestic telecom manufacturing capabilities. PM Modi said the coming decade would drive Odisha toward prosperity. He vowed that the resource-rich state would no longer be left behind, announcing plans for a semiconductor park. Odisha has been immensely gifted by nature. Odisha has seen many decades of suffering, but this decade will take Odisha towards prosperity.
The newly launched India-made network is designed to be cloud-based and adaptable for future upgrades. “The India-made network is cloud-based, future-ready and can upgrade seamlessly to 5G,” an official told PTI. The project is set to connect over 26,700 previously unconnected villages, including 2,472 in Odisha, many of which are located in remote, border, and left-wing extremism-affected areas.
The coverage expansion aims to boost digital participation and communication channels for millions in rural India. A notable aspect of this rollout is the use of solar-powered towers, creating the country’s largest cluster of green telecom sites. This is intended to promote sustainable infrastructure development while expanding connectivity.
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