New Delhi, October 4 (Udaipur Kiran News): India’s 5G network continues to expand at a steady pace, with the total number of 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) crossing the half-million mark in September 2025. According to the latest data from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), India now has 504,588 5G BTS, up from 498,135 in August 2025.

This marks a major milestone in India’s 5G journey, which began in October 2022, when telecom operators launched commercial 5G services. In just three years, India’s 5G infrastructure has grown rapidly, making 5G services widely accessible across urban and semi-urban regions.

5G Rollout Progress and Regional Distribution

From 467,620 BTS in January 2025 to 504,588 in September 2025, India has added nearly 37,000 new sites in nine months.

• Uttar Pradesh leads with over 50,000 5G BTS,

• while Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Gujarat each have more than 30,000 5G BTS deployed.

The numbers could have been higher had BSNL and Vodafone Idea (Vi) accelerated their rollouts.

• Vodafone Idea has recently started deploying 5G,

• while BSNL is still in the pre-commercial phase, expected to join active rollout in the coming months.

Outlook and Next Steps

The DoT has extended the deadline for telecom operators to submit 5G EMF (Electromagnetic Field) compliance certificates to December 31, 2025.

Currently, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel — the two major private operators — have moderated their 5G capex, slowing down the rollout pace. However, this period will likely see Vodafone Idea and BSNL ramp up their deployments to expand nationwide coverage.

The continued addition of 5G BTS is crucial for enhancing network capacity, coverage, and user experience, positioning India as one of the largest 5G markets globally.