New Delhi: In a resounding affirmation of India’s self-reliance drive, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) groundbreaking “Swadeshi” 4G network on Saturday, catapulting the nation into the league of global telecom manufacturing powerhouses alongside Denmark, South Korea, China, and Sweden.
Speaking at a vibrant public rally here, Modi commissioned over 97,500 mobile 4G towers – including 92,600 cutting-edge sites – developed entirely with indigenous technology at a staggering cost of ₹37,000 crore. This launch, timed with BSNL’s silver jubilee, promises to connect more than 26,700 remote villages, including 2,472 in Odisha, bridging digital divides in border and left-wing extremism-hit areas.
“Remember the memes mocking our 2G and 3G days? Today, through sheer hard work, BSNL has scripted history,” Modi quipped, lauding the youth’s role in this triumph.
The cloud-based stack, a fully homegrown marvel, will seamlessly upgrade to 5G, ensuring swift rollout of next-gen services and empowering first-time digital users across the country.
Reposting the praise from Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Modi highlighted how these 92,000 sites have connected 2.2 crore people, fuelling jobs, exports, and economic growth — a true odyssey from dependency to confidence.
Modi’s vision extended beyond telecom, as he kickstarted projects worth thousands of crores, underscoring Odisha’s surge under the ‘double-engine’ momentum. “A year and a half ago, you vowed a Viksit Odisha; today, it’s racing ahead,” he said, announcing approvals for two semiconductor units and a dedicated park in the state – nature’s bounty now fuelling tech innovation. “This decade is Odisha’s to seize,” Modi asserted, highlighting the network’s potential to expand connectivity to remote regions.
As India eyes 100,000 more towers soon, this indigenous leap not only counters global trade headwinds but also cements the nation’s Atmanirbhar ethos.
In Modi’s words, telecom is no longer just infrastructure – it’s the backbone of a prosperous, connected Bharat.