New Delhi, November 11: The number of villages without 4G mobile coverage has fallen by nearly 75%, from 45,180 in 2022 to 11,372 in 2026, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said, citing progress under the 4G Saturation Project.
18,291 BSNL sites live
The project was designed to bring 4G to 24,680 previously unconnected villages. BSNL has so far commissioned 18,291 sites under the plan.
In October 2026, these sites served a maximum of 10,21,048 active users in a day. Users consumed 18,659,170 GB of data during the month, an average of 18.3 GB per user, with an average load of about 56 active users per site, according to DoT.
26,000 more sites sanctioned
The government has sanctioned 26,000 additional mobile network sites for the next phase of rural coverage.
Remaining challenges
DoT said difficult terrain, high infrastructure costs, scattered settlements and remote tribal habitations remain obstacles. Its strategy includes deploying more sites, expanding network sharing, making better use of existing infrastructure and coordinating with telecom service providers.
The department said wider rural connectivity is intended to support digital governance, education, healthcare and financial services in villages.
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