India’s Indigenous 4G Stack: A Leap Towards Digital Self-Reliance

Table of Contents

Context

On BSNL’s 25th anniversary (silver jubilee), PM Modi inaugurated India’s indigenously developed 4G stack. This places India among a select group of nations (Denmark, Sweden, South Korea, China) with their own telecom equipment.

What is the 4G Stack?

A fusion of hardware and software that powers mobile communication – enabling calls, internet connectivity, and data flows.
Traditionally sourced from global vendors, leaving India dependent on foreign technology.
BSNL, supported by Indian institutions, built it from scratch during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Key Achievements

Development in Record Time: Built in 22 months during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Collaboration between C-DOT (core network), Tejas Networks (radio access), and TCS (system integration).
Scale of Deployment: Over 92,000 4G sites installed by BSNL.
- Reached 22 million subscribers, including 2 million first-time internet users.
High-Capacity Network: Capable of handling ~4 petabytes of data per day with high efficiency and security.
Global Recognition: India becomes one of only five nations with end-to-end indigenous telecom stack capability.
- Countries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America have expressed interest in adopting India’s system.
Revival of BSNL: After 17 years of losses, BSNL recorded consecutive profitable quarters, reflecting consumer trust in homegrown technology.

Economic and Strategic Significance

Economic

Boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat: Reduces reliance on foreign vendors (e.g., Nokia, Ericsson, Huawei).
Employment & Skills: Generates jobs in manufacturing, R&D, and software engineering.
Ecosystem Growth: Strengthens domestic telecom equipment industry and supplier chains.
Export Potential: Opens a new frontier for India’s “Local to Global” strategy, similar to UPI and space tech.

Strategic

Digital Sovereignty: Secures telecom backbone from geopolitical risks and cyber vulnerabilities.
Strategic Autonomy: Reduces dependence on Chinese equipment amid rising security concerns.
Soft Power: Enhances India’s global profile as a trusted digital partner, aligning with Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
Foundation for 5G/6G: Creates indigenous capacity to scale into next-generation technologies.

Challenges

Technology Upgradation: Global telecom giants already moving to 5G and 6G, while India is still scaling 4G.
Commercial Competitiveness: Foreign vendors have global supply chains and economies of scale; Indian solutions must match on cost and reliability.
Ecosystem Constraints: Dependence on imported components for semiconductors and high-end hardware.
Global Standards: Ensuring compatibility with international telecom protocols and networks.
Private Sector Adoption: Private telcos (Airtel, Jio, Vodafone) still rely heavily on foreign vendors.

Government Initiatives

Atmanirbhar Bharat & PLI Scheme: Incentives for telecom manufacturing and design in India.
Spectrum Policy: Supporting BSNL’s indigenous 4G rollout as a test bed for Indian technology.
C-DOT R&D Push: Funding research for 4G/5G evolution, cybersecurity, and indigenous protocols.
Global Promotion: Positioning Indian telecom stack as part of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) exports alongside UPI and Aadhaar tech.

Way Forward

Scale Up 5G & 6G Readiness: Accelerate R&D to ensure indigenous 5G stack is globally competitive.
Strengthen Supply Chains: Develop domestic semiconductor and component manufacturing under India Semiconductor Mission.
Public–Private Partnerships: Encourage private telecom operators to integrate indigenous stack gradually.
Export Strategy: Use South-South cooperation and partnerships with Africa, ASEAN, and Latin America for telecom diplomacy.
Standards Leadership: Engage with global telecom standard bodies to shape future protocols in India’s favour.
Continuous Innovation: Invest in cyber-resilience, AI-driven telecom networks, and quantum communication to stay ahead of emerging challenges.