BSNL is nearing its one lakh indigenous 4G site target while expanding coverage and maintaining affordable long-validity plans.
BSNL is nearing a major milestone in its indigenous 4G rollout, with almost 1 lakh Made-in-India 4G sites now installed across India. The state-run telecom operator is simultaneously using long-validity prepaid plans to strengthen its value proposition as its 4G network expands and prepares for future 5G upgrades.
As of July 31, 2026, BSNL had installed 98,557 indigenous 4G sites across the country, with 97,213 sites already on-air. The figures mean the operator has completed more than 98% of its planned one lakh-site indigenous 4G deployment.
BSNL’s Indigenous 4G Network Nears 1 Lakh Sites
The rollout is part of the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat push to establish a domestically developed telecom technology ecosystem.
BSNL’s indigenous 4G stack has been developed through an Indian technology ecosystem involving TCS, Tejas Networks and C-DOT. The technology is also designed to be upgraded to 5G from a technology perspective, giving BSNL a pathway toward next-generation services without replacing the entire underlying network architecture.
The government had originally approved the deployment of one lakh indigenous 4G sites for BSNL’s pan-India network. The rollout has progressed rapidly since equipment supplies began in September 2023.
With more than 97,000 sites already on-air, BSNL’s immediate challenge is shifting from building the core 4G footprint to improving coverage, network performance and customer experience across different regions.
Another 26,300 4G Sites Have Been Ordered
BSNL’s network expansion is not stopping at the original one lakh-site target.
In August 2026, the operator announced that it had ordered more than 26,300 additional 4G BTS sites for deployment across the country. The additional sites are intended to extend coverage into more towns, villages and remote areas while strengthening the existing network.
This additional order is important because the one lakh-site programme was largely focused on upgrading existing BSNL infrastructure. Further expansion allows the operator to increase its overall network footprint rather than relying only on upgrades of existing locations.
BSNL has also said its 4G network has been optimised to improve coverage, data speeds, call performance and overall network quality.
Long-Validity Plans Remain a Key Part of BSNL’s Strategy
Alongside network expansion, BSNL continues to maintain a strong focus on affordable long-validity prepaid plans.
The operator offers annual and near-annual recharge options that combine voice, data and SMS benefits with extended validity. Such plans can appeal to customers who prefer making a single large recharge instead of repeatedly renewing their mobile connection every month.
BSNL has also recently extended the validity of its Rs. 2,399 annual prepaid plan. Under a special Independence Day offer announced in August, the plan received an additional 47 days of validity, taking the total validity to 412 days.
The company’s long-validity strategy gives BSNL a different proposition from operators that increasingly rely on monthly or shorter-duration plans. It can also make the operator attractive to customers who prioritise affordability and uninterrupted service over bundled premium digital subscriptions.
BSNL’s Customer Base Has Already Recovered
The network expansion has coincided with a recovery in BSNL’s subscriber base.
Government data showed that BSNL’s customer base increased from 8.86 crore in March 2024 to 9.28 crore in December 2025. The improvement came during a period when the private telecom operators were increasing tariffs and BSNL was accelerating its indigenous 4G rollout.
The continued expansion of 4G coverage could give BSNL another opportunity to convert users who previously stayed with the operator primarily because of its low-cost plans.
However, sustained subscriber growth will depend on more than pricing. Consistent 4G availability, indoor coverage, data speeds, call quality and customer support will be critical if BSNL wants to retain users over the long term.
Indigenous 4G Stack Is 5G-Ready
One of the most important aspects of BSNL’s network programme is that the indigenous 4G technology is designed with a future 5G upgrade path.
The government has confirmed that the deployed equipment is 5G-upgradable from a technology perspective. BSNL has also been allocated spectrum in multiple bands, including 3300 MHz, for providing 4G and 5G services.
This gives BSNL the technical foundation to move toward 5G once the commercial and network-readiness requirements are in place.
However, having 5G-upgradable equipment does not mean that BSNL has already deployed a nationwide commercial 5G network. The company still needs to complete the required network upgrades, testing and commercial rollout before customers can expect widespread BSNL 5G availability.
What BSNL’s 4G Expansion Means for Customers
For BSNL users, the immediate benefit is the expansion of reliable 4G connectivity rather than 5G.
The operator’s indigenous network is already being used to migrate customers from older technologies. The government has stated that where BSNL’s 4G service is available, 3G users are being migrated to 4G as part of the rollout.
The additional 26,300-plus sites should further improve coverage in areas where BSNL’s network has historically been weaker. Rural and remote regions are particularly important because the government is also using various connectivity programmes to improve coverage in commercially challenging locations.
For consumers comparing mobile operators, BSNL’s combination of long-validity plans and expanding 4G coverage therefore remains its primary competitive proposition.
BSNL’s Next Test Is Network Quality
BSNL has made significant progress in deploying indigenous 4G infrastructure, but the next stage will determine whether that investment translates into a sustainable turnaround.
Reaching one lakh indigenous 4G sites is an important infrastructure milestone. Yet customers will ultimately judge the network on everyday factors such as download speeds, call reliability, indoor coverage and the availability of service in their local areas.
The additional 26,300-plus 4G sites and the eventual transition toward 5G could help BSNL address those gaps.
For now, BSNL is approaching the completion of its flagship indigenous 4G rollout while keeping its pricing strategy focused on affordability and long validity. If network quality continues to improve alongside coverage, the combination could strengthen BSNL’s position in India’s increasingly competitive telecom market.
