New Delhi, 29 December (H.S.): The year 2025 proved historic for India’s Ministry of Communications, marking a watershed moment in the nation’s digital transformation. This year, the ministry achieved major milestones—from extending 5G services to every corner of the country and launching the national 6G Mission, to crossing the 1-billion internet connection threshold under the National Broadband Mission 2.0.

The year also saw India emerge as the fifth country in the world to successfully roll out an indigenous fourth-generation (4G) technology stack, advancing the government’s vision of a secure, self-reliant, and affordable digital ecosystem for all—students, farmers, entrepreneurs, workers, women, and senior citizens alike.

Nationwide 5G Coverage and Massive Connectivity Expansion

According to official data, 5G services now cover all states and Union Territories, with availability extended to 99.9% of districts and nearly 85% of the population. As of October 2025, India had installed 5.08 lakh fifth-generation base transceiver stations, significantly improving network quality, reducing call drops, and increasing internet speeds nationwide.

The proliferation of high-speed 5G has spurred youth-led digital entrepreneurship, boosting opportunities in freelancing, content creation, and remote work. Small shopkeepers, vendors, and hawkers have widely adopted QR codes, UPI, and online payments, enhancing business efficiency and reducing dependence on cash.

Through National Broadband Mission 2.0, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) ensured that the benefits of connectivity reached rural India. The fiber-optic cable network length nearly doubled from 1.935 million route kilometers (2019) to 4.236 million route kilometers (2025), connecting 2,14,843 gram panchayats with broadband access.

Rural telephone connections grew by 42.9%, nearly twice the rate observed in urban regions.

Record-breaking Internet and Broadband Penetration

India made history in June 2025, recording 1.0029 billion internet connections—a national milestone. By September, broadband subscriptions had touched 995.6 million. Average monthly wireless data consumption rose 399-fold since 2014, reaching 24.01 GB per user.India now ranks among the world’s fastest mobile internet countries with an average broadband download speed of 131.47 Mbps (October 2025). Despite this speed leap, data costs remained remarkably low—at just USD 0.10 per GB, among the cheapest globally.

Indigenous 4G Stack and 6G Mission: Pioneering Digital Sovereignty

Under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, one of the ministry’s greatest accomplishments was the development and rollout of the Indigenous 4G Stack, built collaboratively by C-DOT, Tejas Networks, and TCS within just two years—a feat that other nations achieved over decades. This software-defined and cloud-based stack can be seamlessly upgraded to 5G, reducing foreign dependency and ensuring national digital security.

BSNL is spearheading the nationwide deployment of this indigenous 4G network, expanding affordable and reliable connectivity to remote regions while reinforcing India’s digital sovereignty.

Simultaneously, India advanced its 6G Mission, promoting R&D through newly established test centers and strengthening the country’s role in international standard-setting. As part of the Bharat 6G Alliance, seven expert working groups were formed, and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed with global research alliances to secure India’s participation in next-generation telecom innovation.

Digital Security and Citizen Protection through ‘Sanchar Saathi’

To combat rising online fraud, the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ application emerged as a game-changer in 2025. Over 220 million citizens registered on the portal, with 15 million downloads of its mobile app. The Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) issued alerts for over 7 million suspicious transactions, safeguarding approximately ₹450 crore in citizens’ finances.The platform successfully traced 2.635 million lost or stolen mobile phones, returning 730,000 devices to rightful owners.

Additionally, 621,000 fraudulent IMEI numbers were blocked, while the International Spoofed Call Prevention System drastically curtailed daily fake call attempts, strengthening user trust in digital communication.

Telecom Innovation and Manufacturing Growth

The India Mobile Congress 2025, held in October in New Delhi, showcased cutting-edge breakthroughs in AI, cybersecurity, quantum communication, satellite technology, and smart mobility. The four-day event drew 1.4 lakh visitors, featuring 860 exhibitors and 465 Indian startups, highlighting India’s growing footprint in global technology innovation.

Boosted by the Ministry’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, the telecom manufacturing sector achieved ₹96,240 crore in domestic sales, ₹19,240 crore in exports, and created 30,000 new jobs this year. The Centralized Right-of-Way (RoW) Portal streamlined infrastructure approvals—reducing average clearance time from 448 days to just 34 days, with 25% of applications resolved within two weeks.

Reinforcing Disaster Communication and Legal Reforms

During natural calamities such as floods and landslides in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir, and cyclones Montha and Ditva, the ministry’s indigenous Cell Broadcasting System played a crucial role by issuing real-time, location-specific alerts, preventing loss of life and maintaining vital communication links during crises.

Legislative progress was notable under the Telecommunication Act, 2023, with the rollout of Telecommunication Cybersecurity Rules and Right of Way Rules, 2024. By eliminating or simplifying 110 of 114 outdated provisions, the ministry eased compliance burdens, doubled the validity of security certifications to two years, and slashed testing fees by 95%, bolstering the Ease of Doing Business.

Expanding Digital Inclusion and Research Funding

Through the BharatNet Project and 4G Saturation Project, mobile and broadband services reached far-flung villages. The Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) financed 136 research projects worth ₹550 crore, fostering domestic innovation. Under the ‘Sanchar Mitra 2.0’ program, 2,200 students were trained to raise awareness about cyber hygiene and fraud prevention.

Conclusion:

By bridging urban-rural digital divides, empowering citizens through indigenous technology, and securing record connectivity, 2025 stands as a defining year in India’s telecom history—a year that transformed Bharat into a truly connected, self-reliant digital nation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar