5G reaches India’s 99.9% districts through 5.08 lakh 5G base stations

India has achieved near-universal 5G coverage, with services now available across every State and Union Territory and reaching 99.9% of districts. Over 5.08 lakh 5G base stations have been deployed, driven by government initiatives such as BharatNet, 4G Saturation, and connectivity schemes in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas. In a nutshell, India now operates over 31 lakh base stations across all telecom technologies.

This progress was confirmed by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in the Rajya Sabha, noting that India has moved from early-stage pilots to near-national coverage in just over 2 years—one of the fastest nationwide deployments globally.

The minister stated that operators have expanded both urban and rural 5G coverage using fresh spectrum and upgraded infrastructure, bringing high-speed services to major cities, district headquarters, and increasingly to rural belts.

The government has prioritized rural and remote regions through targeted schemes, including BharatNet, which extends fibre broadband to villages; mobile connectivity projects in LWE-affected and Aspirational Districts; and the 4G Saturation program, which ensures basic mobile coverage for previously unconnected villages.

With near-universal coverage now in place, the focus shifts to enhancing network quality, expanding enterprise applications, and advancing rural digital services. Strengthening fibre backhaul and delivering reliable, consistent connectivity—particularly in high-density areas—will be key priorities in 2026. The country’s 5G ecosystem is now well positioned to enable the next phase of digital inclusion, innovation, and enterprise-led growth.