5G services have been rolled out across all States and Union Territories in India and are now available in 99.9 per cent of districts in the country, the government informed the Rajya Sabha.
The update was provided in a written reply by Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, who stated that telecom service providers had installed 15.18 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) across India as of 31 December 2025.
In addition, 5G BTS infrastructure has been deployed in 1.12 lakh villages, significantly expanding high-speed connectivity into rural regions.
To improve coverage, quality, and speed of 5G networks, the minister said that the government has undertaken multiple measures, including the auction of spectrum for 5G mobile services in 2022, financial reforms to rationalise Adjusted Gross Revenue and bank guarantees, and removal of Spectrum Usage Charges for spectrum acquired in the 2022 auction and thereafter.
The government has also simplified procedures for Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocation clearances and launched the GatiShakti Sanchar portal along with Right of Way rules to streamline permissions for telecom infrastructure deployment.
Time-bound approvals for use of street furniture to install small cells and telecommunication lines have further supported faster rollout.
To ensure service quality, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India released revised Quality of Service benchmarks through the “Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wireline and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024,” effective 1 October 2024, with provider performance monitored regularly.
The minister noted that the deployment of 5G infrastructure in specific locations depends on techno-commercial feasibility, penetration of compatible devices, and availability of Right of Way permissions.
With over 5,18,854 5G BTSs installed nationwide, the rollout reflects one of the fastest expansions of next-generation telecom infrastructure globally, positioning India for accelerated digital adoption and data-driven economic growth.
