--- title: "5G Rollout in India | Whitepill" canonical_url: "https://www.whitepill.in/milestones/india-5g-rollout" last_updated: "2026-09-07T19:14:06.932Z" meta: description: "India launched 5G mobile services on 1 October 2022, beginning one of the world's fastest large-scale deployments of next-generation mobile infrastructure. F..." "og:description": "India launched 5G mobile services on 1 October 2022, beginning one of the world's fastest large-scale deployments of next-generation mobile infrastructure. F..." "og:title": "5G Rollout in India | Whitepill" "twitter:description": "India launched 5G mobile services on 1 October 2022, beginning one of the world's fastest large-scale deployments of next-generation mobile infrastructure. F..." "twitter:title": "5G Rollout in India | Whitepill" --- [All milestones](https://www.whitepill.in/milestones) Technology Government # 5G Rollout in India 1 October 2022 India launched 5G mobile services on 1 October 2022, beginning one of the world's fastest large-scale deployments of next-generation mobile infrastructure. Following the government's 2022 spectrum auction and telecom-sector reforms, private telecom operators rapidly deployed hundreds of thousands of 5G base stations across the country. Within roughly two years, 5G had reached nearly every district in India. By February 2026, 5G services were available in 99.9% of districts with 5.23 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations installed nationwide, creating infrastructure for high-speed connectivity, fixed wireless access, smart manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture and other digital applications. Published by [Whitepill](https://www.whitepill.in/about) on 15 August 2026 ## People involved [Narendra ModiPrime Minister of India](https://www.google.com/search?q=Narendra+Modi) [Ashwini VaishnawUnion Minister for Electronics and Information Technology](https://www.google.com/search?q=Ashwini+Vaishnaw) [Jyotiraditya M. ScindiaUnion Minister for Communications](https://www.google.com/search?q=Jyotiraditya+M.+Scindia) [Mukesh AmbaniChairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries](https://www.google.com/search?q=Mukesh+Ambani) [Sunil Bharti MittalFounder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises](https://www.google.com/search?q=Sunil+Bharti+Mittal) ## Timeline 1 September 2017 #### India establishes 5G High Level Forum The Government of India established a High Level Forum for 5G to develop a roadmap for the country's adoption of fifth-generation mobile technology and strengthen domestic research and development. 1 January 2018 #### India begins preparing for indigenous 5G development Government, academic institutions and industry expanded research into 5G technologies, standards, testbeds and indigenous telecom equipment as India prepared for commercial deployment. 4 May 2021 #### 5G trials approved The Department of Telecommunications approved applications from telecom service providers to conduct 5G technology trials in India, allowing operators and technology partners to test next-generation networks before commercial deployment. 17 May 2022 #### Indigenous 5G testbed launched India launched an indigenous 5G testbed developed through collaboration between leading Indian academic institutions, providing domestic industry and startups with infrastructure for validating 5G products and technologies. 26 July 2022 #### India begins first major 5G spectrum auction The Government of India began auctioning spectrum across multiple frequency bands for the deployment of 5G mobile services. 1 August 2022 #### 5G spectrum auction concludes India's 2022 telecom spectrum auction concluded with bids worth more than ₹1.50 lakh crore. Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Adani Data Networks acquired spectrum across various bands. 18 August 2022 #### 5G spectrum assigned to telecom operators The Department of Telecommunications assigned spectrum acquired in the auction to telecom service providers, clearing a major regulatory step toward commercial 5G deployment. 1 October 2022 #### 5G services officially launched in India Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched 5G services at the India Mobile Congress in New Delhi, marking the beginning of commercial 5G deployment in India. 1 October 2022 #### Airtel begins commercial 5G rollout Bharti Airtel began deploying Airtel 5G Plus across its initial cities, becoming one of the first operators to commercially offer 5G connectivity in India. 5 October 2022 #### Reliance Jio begins 5G beta rollout Reliance Jio began the beta rollout of its Jio True 5G network in major cities, using a standalone 5G architecture designed to operate independently of the existing 4G network. 1 January 2023 #### 5G deployment accelerates nationwide Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel rapidly expanded their 5G networks into additional cities and towns, driving one of the fastest large-scale telecom infrastructure deployments in India. 1 May 2023 #### India crosses 2 lakh 5G base stations India crossed approximately two lakh installed 5G Base Transceiver Stations within months of the commercial launch, demonstrating the rapid pace of network deployment. 27 October 2023 #### 100 5G Use Case Labs announced The government launched an initiative establishing 100 5G Use Case Labs in educational institutions to encourage development of applications in areas including agriculture, healthcare, education, transportation and smart infrastructure. 31 December 2023 #### 5G reaches most Indian districts By the end of 2023, India's 5G deployment had expanded across the overwhelming majority of districts as telecom operators continued installing base stations at a rapid pace. 31 October 2024 #### 5G reaches 779 of 783 districts By 31 October 2024, 5G services had been deployed in all States and Union Territories and were available in 779 of India's 783 districts. More than 4.6 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations had been installed. 28 February 2025 #### India installs 4.69 lakh 5G base stations India had installed approximately 4.69 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations. 5G services were available in 99.6% of districts and approximately 25 crore mobile subscribers were using 5G. 30 June 2025 #### 5G infrastructure reaches 4.86 lakh BTSs The number of installed 5G Base Transceiver Stations reached approximately 4.86 lakh, while 5G services were available in 99.8% of districts across India. 31 October 2025 #### 5G reaches 99.9% of districts India's 5G network reached 99.9% of districts with approximately 5.08 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations installed nationwide. Government figures also reported approximately 85% population coverage. 31 December 2025 #### India crosses 5.18 lakh 5G base stations Telecom service providers had installed approximately 5.18 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations across India while maintaining 5G availability in 99.9% of districts. 28 February 2026 #### India reaches 5.23 lakh 5G base stations India reached approximately 5.23 lakh installed 5G Base Transceiver Stations. 5G services were available in all States and Union Territories and in 99.9% of districts across the country. 1 June 2026 #### 5G becomes nationwide digital infrastructure By 2026, government reporting described 5G as available in 99.9% of districts with approximately 85% population coverage, completing the transition from an initial metropolitan rollout into nationwide digital infrastructure. ## Resources - [officialpib.gov.in](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2083732) - [officialpib.gov.in](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2113855) - [officialpib.gov.in](https://www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=2147766) - [officialpib.gov.in](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2206477) - [officialpib.gov.in](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2223772) - [officialpib.gov.in](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2239109)