- CM Bhupendra Patel and Union Labour Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya hail milestone
- BSNL Gujarat rolls out 4,000+ sites and 10,000+ villages under 4G coverage
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, SEPT 27
In a landmark boost to India’s digital infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday morning inaugurated BSNL’s Indigenous 4G Towers from Jharsuguda, Odisha, commissioning more than 97,500 mobile 4G towers built at a cost of ₹37,000 crore with swadeshi technology.
Of these, over 92,600 sites have been commissioned by BSNL, including 18,900 towers funded under the Digital Bharat Nidhi, which will connect 26,700 unconnected villages in remote, border, and left-wing extremism-affected areas. The towers are solar-powered, creating India’s largest cluster of green telecom infrastructure.
Prime Minister Modi said, “India’s telecom revolution is now powered by our own technology. With BSNL’s indigenous 4G rollout, we are not only connecting villages and borders but also ensuring self-reliance and sustainability. This is a proud moment for Digital India.”
A Robert J Ravi, chairman and managing director, BSNL said: “BSNL/s Silver Jubilee coincides with a new beginning – indigenous 4G at national scale. With sustained policy support, operational efficiency and disciplined execution, we are delivering affordable, secure, resilient connectivity – from the Himalayas to the islands and building a clear runway to 5G SA for citizens and enterprises alike.”
Gujarat at the Forefront of BSNL Growth
Coinciding with the national inauguration, BSNL Gujarat Circle celebrated its Silver Jubilee today, marking 25 years of trusted telecom service to the people of the state.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel said, “Gujarat has always been a leader in connectivity and infrastructure. With over ₹2,200 crore investment by BSNL in 4G expansion and saturation projects, we are ensuring that even our remotest villages join the mainstream of Digital India.”
Union Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya added, “Affordable telecom access is empowerment. From farmers in rural areas to entrepreneurs in cities, BSNL’s expansion strengthens livelihoods, business opportunities, and youth employability in Gujarat.”
“The state-run telecom company had posted a net profit of ₹262 crore in the July–September quarter and ₹280 crore in the October–December quarter of 2024, its first back-to-back profitable quarters in 18 years,” added Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.
Key Achievements in Gujarat
Govind Kewlani, Chief General Manager (Gujarat Telecom Circle), shared that Gujarat is among BSNL’s leading circles with:
- 4,000 live 4G sites, covering 10,236 villages
- 711 new sites under 4G Saturation Project, worth ₹902.37 crore, with 621 towers across 23 districts and Dadra & Nagar Haveli ready for inauguration, covering 774 villages
- ₹1,328.56 crore expansion project, ensuring robust connectivity across rural and urban belts
“With more than 10,000 villages already connected, Gujarat is bridging the digital divide faster than ever before,” Shri Kewlani said.
Silver Jubilee: Strengthening Gujarat’s Digital Backbone
Marking its 25th year, BSNL Gujarat is pushing forward with multiple initiatives:
- Unlimited Bharat Fibre (FTTH) plans from 25 Mbps to 1 Gbps (₹333 onwards), bundled with OTT and IFTV services
- Enterprise services: 26,662 km of optical fibre, 600+ OFC PoPs, 2,579 OLTs, and over 1,400 enterprise clients including Adani Group, Torrent Group, Zydus Life, L&T, ISRO, SBI, India Post, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force
- Future-ready services: Private 5G/LTE networks, 5G Fixed Wireless Access, Kaushalam digital skill platform for youth, and the Integrated Business Solution Policy 2025
Celebratory Events in Gujarat
- BSNL Day on October 1, 2025
- Illumination of BSNL offices across Gujarat
- Cultural program on October 8 at Thakorbhai Desai Hall, Ahmedabad
Looking Ahead
As Gujarat celebrates this milestone, BSNL reaffirmed its role as the digital backbone of the state. “As BSNL Gujarat steps into its next 25 years, our mission remains innovation, trust, and national service,” Kewlani said. “We are not just connecting phones—we are connecting people, businesses, and dreams.”
