India nears universal 5G coverage as telecom exports surge, Parliament told

Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia outlined major gains in 5G rollout, telecom manufacturing and rural connectivity, highlighting export growth, expanding network infrastructure and new policies on in-flight connectivity and satellite communications.

India has achieved near-universal access to fifth-generation mobile services, with 99.9 per cent of districts now covered by 5G networks, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told the Lok Sabha. The update comes nearly three years after 5G services were formally launched in 2022, marking a rapid expansion of next-generation connectivity across the country.

Sharing broader sector data, Scindia said India’s telecom exports have risen sharply over the past five years, increasing by 72 per cent. Exports grew from about ₹10,000 crore in 2020–21 to over ₹18,400 crore in 2024–25, while imports have remained largely flat at around ₹51,000 crore. According to the minister, this trend reflects growing domestic manufacturing strength and progress toward self-reliance in telecom equipment.

5G rollout and network expansion

Scindia informed the House that 767 of India’s 778 districts are already connected to 5G services. The country currently has around 360 million 5G users, a number projected to rise to 420 million by 2026 and scale up to one billion users by 2030.

He also highlighted the massive expansion of telecom infrastructure, noting that the number of base transceiver stations has increased nearly fivefold—from about 6.5 lakh to more than 31.4 lakh. These stations form the backbone of wireless communication, enabling improved coverage and data capacity nationwide.

Overall mobile coverage has expanded from 90.68 per cent in 2014 to 98.43 per cent as of October 2025, reaching over 6.34 lakh villages. Under the BharatNet programme, more than 2.14 lakh Gram Panchayats have been made service-ready to support digital services in rural areas.

New policies: In-flight connectivity and SATCOM

On in-flight connectivity, Scindia said telecom regulations are now finalised, with operational guidelines from the civil aviation authorities expected next. Airlines will then be required to equip aircraft with necessary systems to enable onboard mobile services.

Addressing satellite communications, the minister emphasised SATCOM’s role in connecting remote and underserved regions. He confirmed that satellite spectrum will be allocated administratively and said licences have already been issued to Starlink, OneWeb and Reliance, laying the groundwork for nationwide satellite-based connectivity.