PM Modi Inaugurates BSNL’s Swadeshi 4G Network from Odisha: A Landmark in India’s Digital Journey
In a significant stride towards Digital India and self-reliance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) Swadeshi 4G network on September 27, 2025, from Jharsuguda, Odisha. This landmark event coincided with BSNL’s silver jubilee celebrations, symbolizing a new era of indigenous telecom technology and rural connectivity across the nation.
A Giant Leap for Indigenous Technology
The newly launched 4G network is entirely built with indigenous technology, positioning India among a select group of countries like Denmark, Sweden, South Korea, and China that manufacture their own telecom equipment. Marking the launch, PM Modi highlighted the pride and progress of India’s telecom sector, stating that the country is now moving from dependence to confidence on the global stage.
Extensive Network Coverage and Connectivity Boost
The rollout included the commissioning of over 97,500 mobile 4G towers, of which approximately 92,600 feature the new swadeshi 4G technology. This vast infrastructure investment of around ₹37,000 crore aims to connect over 26,700 previously unconnected villages across the country, including 2,472 in Odisha alone. Many of these villages are in remote, border, and left-wing extremism affected areas, thus promising to bridge the rural-urban digital divide significantly.
Future-Ready and Environmentally Sustainable
BSNL’s Swadeshi 4G network is cloud-based and designed to be future-ready, allowing seamless upgrades to 5G technology. A notable feature of this rollout is the installation of solar-powered towers, creating India’s largest cluster of green telecom infrastructure. This combination of advanced technology and sustainability underscores the government’s commitment to eco-friendly development.
Empowering Rural India and Border Security
This expansion will directly benefit over 2 million new subscribers, especially in tribal and rural areas that have historically lacked reliable digital services. PM Modi emphasized that this network will enable better access to education, healthcare, telemedicine, and agricultural information, thus improving quality of life. Additionally, the secure indigenous network will benefit Indian soldiers stationed in border areas with safe and robust connectivity.
Odisha’s Road to Prosperity
While inaugurating the network in Odisha, PM Modi expressed his vision for the state’s growth in the coming decade. Highlighting recent central government approvals for two semiconductor units and plans for a semiconductor park in Odisha, he promised a bright future driven by technology and industrial development.
Broader Development Initiatives in Odisha
Alongside the 4G network launch, PM Modi also inaugurated several development projects worth over ₹60,000 crore in Odisha. These projects cover railways, healthcare, higher education, and skill development, collectively aimed at boosting economic growth and social welfare in the state.
This inauguration marks a historic milestone for India’s telecom sector, empowering millions with high-speed connectivity through a proudly made-in-India 4G network. It underscores the nation’s vision for a digitally inclusive future, stronger rural empowerment, and sustainable technological progress under the Digital India mission.