Government Strengthens Rural 4G Connectivity Through 4G Saturation Project
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has achieved significant progress in bridging the digital divide, reducing the number of villages without 4G connectivity by nearly 75% from 45,180 in 2022 to 11,372 in 2026. This expansion is primarily driven by the 4G Saturation Project designed to provide connectivity to 24,680 previously unconnected villages, ensuring reliable mobile communication services and digital connectivity benefits in remote and underserved areas.
BSNL has commissioned 18,291 sites under the 24,680-site rollout plan, which are carrying substantial data traffic in rural areas. In October 2026, these sites served a maximum of 10,21,048 active users in a single day, with total data consumption exceeding 1.86 crore GB (18,659,170 GB) for the month. This translates to an average of 18.3 GB per user, with approximately 56 active users per site serving dispersed rural communities that previously lacked 4G coverage.
The government has sanctioned an additional 26,000 mobile network sites for the next phase of expansion to address remaining connectivity gaps. Extending connectivity to remote and geographically difficult locations remains challenging due to difficult terrain, high infrastructure costs, scattered settlements, and remote tribal habitations.
Moving forward, DoT will prioritize coverage of remaining unconnected villages, particularly in remote, tribal and aspirational regions. Strategies include deployment of additional mobile network sites, expansion of network-sharing arrangements, improved utilization of existing telecom infrastructure, and greater coordination with telecom service providers. These efforts aim to ensure inclusive digital access enabling rural communities to benefit from digital governance, education, healthcare, financial services and other essential digital platforms.