- Science & Technology Minister Arjunbhai Modhwadia applauds Gujarat LSA for creating one of the country’s most secure, connected and future-ready telecom ecosystems
- State emerges among India’s top-performing telecom circles with 5G expansion, BharatNet rollout, cyber fraud prevention and rural digital inclusion gathering unprecedented momentum
- From 52,000 telecom towers to 38,000-plus 5G BTS, Gujarat strengthens its leadership in next-generation connectivity and digital governance
- Recovery of stolen mobile phones surges well above the national average as Sanchar Saathi, CEIR and AI-driven telecom intelligence safeguard millions of citizens
- ₹150-crore SASCI support, seamless Right of Way clearances and robust Centre-State coordination accelerate Gujarat’s Digital India journey
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, JULY 3
With Gujarat emerging as one of India’s strongest digital growth engines, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Gujarat Licensed Service Area (LSA) on Thursday showcased its remarkable achievements in telecom infrastructure, digital security and rural connectivity, drawing high praise from Gujarat Science & Technology Minister Arjunbhai Devabhai Modhwadia, who lauded the Centre-State partnership for making the state a national benchmark in telecom development.
Addressing the “Digital and Doordarshan Vikas Par Samvad” at the RTTC Conference Hall in Ahmedabad, the Minister congratulated the Department of Telecommunications and the Government of Gujarat for their outstanding coordination in expanding broadband infrastructure, strengthening secure telecom services and accelerating digital transformation across urban, rural and remote regions.
“The Government of Gujarat remains fully committed to supporting the development of robust telecom infrastructure and driving digital transformation, particularly in rural, remote and underserved areas. I congratulate the Department of Telecommunications in Gujarat for its excellent work through close coordination with the State Government,” Modhwadia said.
The programme brought together senior officials of the Government of Gujarat, the Department of Telecommunications, telecom service providers and industry stakeholders to chart the roadmap for a resilient, secure and future-ready telecom ecosystem.
Welcoming the gathering, Ashish Thakar, Additional Director General (Telecom), DoT Gujarat LSA, highlighted Gujarat LSA’s continued focus on network expansion, telecom security, citizen-centric services and digital inclusion.
He noted that Gujarat has been sanctioned ₹150 crore as a 50-year interest-free loan under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme, linked to telecom reforms, BharatNet implementation and power-sector integration.
Presenting the state’s telecom achievements, DoT Gujarat revealed that the state today hosts over 52,000 telecom towers, nearly 2 lakh Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) and more than 38,000 5G BTSs, serving approximately 8.9 crore mobile subscribers with an impressive tele-density of around 120 per cent.
Gujarat has also emerged as a national leader in implementing the 4G Saturation Project, with 653 of the 857 sanctioned sites already operational in uncovered, border and tribal regions through BSNL’s indigenous 4G technology.
Equally significant has been the progress under BharatNet, where all 14,294 Gram Panchayats in Gujarat have become service-ready. Under the revamped programme, ₹5,631 crore has been earmarked to deliver nearly five lakh fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connections over the next five years, boosting digital education, telemedicine, banking and e-governance.
The Department also highlighted Gujarat’s leadership in implementing the Call Before You Dig (CBuD) platform under PM Gati Shakti, with over 15,500 excavation-related enquiries successfully resolved, helping protect critical underground telecom and utility infrastructure.
Cyber security emerged as another standout achievement.
Leveraging the Sanchar Saathi platform, along with CHAKSHU, Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) and the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI), Gujarat has significantly strengthened protection against telecom-enabled cybercrime.
The state’s mobile handset recovery rate climbed from 35 per cent in March 2025 to 48.37 per cent in June 2026, substantially higher than the national average of 34 per cent, propelling Gujarat from seventh to second among major states.
The CEIR platform has enabled blocking of 2.03 lakh stolen mobile phones, tracing 1.27 lakh devices and recovering 61,254 handsets, while over 120 banks and financial institutions, including all cooperative banks in Gujarat, have integrated with the FRI platform to combat financial fraud.
Gujarat has also established 5G Use Case Labs at IIT Gandhinagar, National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, and SVNIT Surat, nurturing innovation in next-generation telecom technologies.
The event concluded with Girish Kataria, Deputy Director General, DoT Gujarat, reaffirming the Department’s commitment to working closely with the Government of Gujarat, telecom service providers and all stakeholders to build a secure, resilient and digitally empowered Gujarat in line with the vision of Digital India and Viksit Bharat 2047.
