By News Karnataka Editorial Team

Copyright newskarnataka

Jharsuguda (Odisha): In a landmark moment for India’s telecommunications sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) indigenous 4G network from Jharsuguda, Odisha. The launch, which coincided with BSNL’s silver jubilee celebrations, underscores the government’s focus on self-reliance in critical digital infrastructure and aligns with the broader vision of Digital India.

Indigenous 4G rollout and rural empowerment

Officials hailed the development as a transformative step in expanding digital connectivity and bridging the rural-urban divide. “The rollout of the ‘swadeshi’ 4G network is a transformative step in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India, bridging the digital divide and empowering rural communities, while paving the way for BSNL’s 5G upgrade and integration,” the Department of Telecommunications said in a statement.

The network, fully developed using Indian technology, is expected to serve over 20 lakh new subscribers in the initial phase.

97,500 towers commissioned

Alongside the launch, the Prime Minister commissioned more than 97,500 mobile towers built by BSNL, of which 92,600 sites are equipped with the new 4G technology. These towers, built at an investment of around ₹37,000 crore, are powered entirely by indigenous technology, placing India in an exclusive group of countries with domestic telecom manufacturing capabilities.

The towers will cover more than 26,700 previously unconnected villages across the country, including 2,472 in Odisha. Many of these villages are located in remote, border, or left-wing extremism-affected areas.

PM Modi’s Odisha push

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi highlighted Odisha’s potential in the new decade. “Odisha has been immensely gifted by nature. Odisha has seen many decades of suffering, but this decade will take Odisha towards prosperity. The Central government has recently approved two semiconductor units for Odisha. A semiconductor park will also be constructed in Odisha,” he announced, as reported by ANI.

He further stated that the launch of BSNL’s swadeshi 4G would be pivotal in driving Odisha’s digital transformation and economic growth.

Future-ready and sustainable

According to officials, the network is designed to be cloud-based and future-ready, with seamless adaptability for upgrades to 5G. In a major step towards sustainability, BSNL has deployed solar-powered towers, creating India’s largest cluster of green telecom sites.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also highlighted the broader impact of the project. “Under PM Modi’s leadership, we have developed pure indigenous technology. When connectivity reaches villages, only then do we connect them with the world,” he said.

Digital Bharat Nidhi initiative

The Prime Minister also unveiled India’s 100 per cent 4G saturation network under the Digital Bharat Nidhi initiative. The mission-mode project aims to connect between 29,000 and 30,000 villages, ensuring universal mobile coverage.

The launch of BSNL’s swadeshi 4G marks a crucial milestone in India’s digital journey, promising not just improved connectivity but also rural empowerment, sustainable infrastructure, and readiness for next-generation telecom upgrades. With its indigenous foundation, the network embodies India’s push towards self-reliance and inclusive digital growth.