Telecom is India’s next Atmanirbhar champion—with 4G rollout as a milestone

Fifteen operators across 9 countries have inquired about India's technology, and nations like Kenya, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, and Egypt have shown concrete interest in Indian 4G and 5G stacks.

Representative image | istock

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi first spoke about Atmanirbhar Bharat and called for Swadeshi innovation, many tried to spin it as rhetoric. But as India unveiled a completely homegrown 4G stack, we can see how right Modi was about the need and possibility of self-reliance in technology infrastructure. The importance of being “Aatmabirbhar” in technology isn’t just an idea, but rather one of the core pillars for accelerating our journey to a $10 trillion economy. 

This lesson in technological sovereignty takes on deeper significance when we examine India’s telecommunications journey. For decades, the country remained dependent on foreign companies for the most fundamental digital infrastructure. Private operators, such as Jio and Airtel, built their networks using equipment from Nokia, Ericsson, and Huawei, as India lacked both the capability and experience to develop its own telecommunications technology. The irony was palpable—a country producing world-class software engineers for Silicon Valley couldn’t manufacture the hardware and software needed to connect its own country. 

Developing indigenous 4G tech

The genesis of India’s indigenous 4G stack traces back to a pivotal moment in 2020 when tenders were floated for 4G equipment. Rather than following the well-trodden path of global procurement, Modi made a characteristically bold decision: India would build its own telecommunications technology. The ambitious timeline seemed almost impossible: develop a complete 4G ecosystem within 22 months that would rival solutions that took global giants decades to perfect. 

Today, India has become a part of an elite club—it is now one of the five countries to have its own indigenous 4G technology. 

The consortium that emerged to tackle this challenge represented India’s technological prowess at its finest. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) brought its integration expertise and global delivery capabilities, Centre for Development of Telematics (CDOT) contributed its research and development foundation, while Tejas Networks provided manufacturing excellence. Together, they achieved a complete telecommunications technology stack developed entirely in India at a cost of Rs 37,000 crore. More remarkably, this indigenous stack incorporates a revolutionary software-defined architecture that enables seamless upgrades from 4G to 5G through simple software modifications alone, eliminating the need for expensive hardware replacements that burden other global networks. 

Many questioned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) delayed 4G rollout, with parliamentary acknowledgments that “BSNL’s revenue has been impacted due to delays in the rollout of 4G services and stiff competition in the mobile segment”. However, this apparent setback has transformed into a strategic advantage. While competitors rushed to deploy foreign technology, BSNL waited for indigenous solutions that offer superior upgradeability and cost-effectiveness. Today, BSNL operates 74,521 sites using completely domestic technology, with plans for 1,00,000 total sites, positioning itself uniquely against competitors who remain dependent on foreign suppliers.

The rollout of this indigenous technology across BSNL’s network represents more than infrastructure deployment—it’s the resurrection of India’s telecommunications flagship. BSNL, once posting Rs 849 crore quarterly losses during the UPA era, has achieved consecutive quarterly profits of Rs 262 crore and Rs 280 crore in recent quarters—its first profitable performance in 18 years. With the indigenous 4G rollout, this will further help BSNL augment its offerings and financial performance. 

 

For India and the world 

The global implications of this achievement extend far beyond India’s borders. Fifteen telecom operators from nine countries have made formal inquiries about adopting India’s indigenous technology, while nations including Kenya, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, and Egypt have expressed concrete interest in Indian 4G and 5G stacks. This international validation positions India to capture meaningful market share in the $100 billion global telecommunications equipment market. 

Today’s indigenous 4G stack launch represents a deeper philosophical shift in how India approaches technological challenges. Rather than accepting perpetual dependence on global solutions, the nation now possesses the confidence and capability to develop cutting-edge technology that serves both domestic needs and global markets. 

As the global community looks toward India with renewed respect and interest, the message resonates powerfully: we develop in India, we innovate for India, and we stand ready to serve the world with our indigenous solutions. The telecommunications sector will emerge as the next champion that demonstrates India’s Atmanirbhar spirit, and our indigenous 4G stack rollout marks one more milestone in this remarkable journey. 

Varun Jhaveri, National In-Charge, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Policy Training and Research. He tweets @Varun_Jhaveri. Siddhartha Chepuri, National Member, BJYM Policy Training and Research. He tweets @SidChepuri. Views are personal. 

(Edited by Ratan Priya)