Source: LM
Context: Prime Minister of India launched BSNL’s fully indigenous 4G network stack and commissioned ~98,000 mobile towers.
- This makes India the fifth country globally to build and deploy its own telecom stack, reinforcing the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
About BSNL’s Swadeshi 4G Network Stack:
What it is?
- India’s first fully indigenous 4G telecom stack, developed under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission.
- Provides end-to-end cloud-native, 5G-ready architecture for mobile communications.
Organisations Involved:
- Core Network – Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).
- Radio Access Network (RAN) – Tejas Networks.
- Integration & Deployment – Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
- Implemented by BSNL with government support.
Aim:
- To achieve strategic autonomy and digital sovereignty in telecom infrastructure.
- To expand universal digital connectivity, covering remote, border, and tribal areas.
- To reduce dependency on foreign vendors and promote domestic manufacturing.
How it works?
- Cloud-native architecture allows seamless upgrades.
- End-to-end Indian stack ensures secure communication and better resilience.
- 4G towers deployed by BSNL are directly upgradable to 5G without large-scale hardware replacement.
Features:
- Fully indigenous stack: hardware + software made in India.
- Scalability: cloud-native design ensures rapid expansion and upgrades.
- Future-ready: architecture is 5G-capable and lays foundation for 6G adoption.
- Applications supported: digital payments, telemedicine, e-governance, online education, precision farming.
Significance:
- Strategic Autonomy: Reduces foreign dependence; enhances national security in critical telecom.
- Employment & Supply Chains: Creates jobs, strengthens local manufacturing, nurtures Indian R&D.
- Digital Inclusion: Connects 29,000–30,000 remote villages under Digital Bharat Nidhi.
