Why in news?

PM Modi, at the India Mobile Congress 2025, announced that India’s indigenously developed 4G stack would not only enhance connectivity and internet access within the country but also be exported globally.

The 4G stack, comprising both telecom hardware and software, is part of India’s strategy to challenge China’s dominance in building telecom infrastructure across the developing world, especially in Africa. Though less advanced than Chinese systems from Huawei and ZTE, India aims to expand its footprint through affordable, secure, and locally developed solutions.

Additionally, New Delhi plans to export its ‘India Stack’ — a set of digital public infrastructure tools for identity, data management, and payments — positioning itself as a key player in digital transformation for developing nations.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About 4G
• India’s Indigenous 4G Technology Stack: A Step Toward Telecom Self-Reliance
• Benefits and Impact of the Indigenous 4G Stack
• India’s 4G Export Plan as a Response to China’s Digital Silk Road

About 4G

• 4G (fourth-generation wireless) represents the broadband mobile communication standard that succeeded 3G and paved the way for 5G.
• It delivers high-speed internet, enabling HD video streaming and wireless broadband connectivity without wired ISP networks.
• Technologies such as LTE, MIMO, and OFDM power 4G networks, offering higher bandwidth, lower latency, and improved efficiency.

India’s Indigenous 4G Technology Stack: A Step Toward Telecom Self-Reliance

• India has achieved a landmark milestone by launching its first indigenously developed 4G network, featuring 98,000 Swadeshi 4G towers powered entirely by homegrown technology.
• The initiative — led by C-DOT (core network), Tejas Networks (radio access), and TCS (system integration) — marks a major stride towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat and digital self-reliance.
• Previously reliant on foreign technology for 2G, 3G, and 4G, India built this stack from scratch during the Covid-19 pandemic, demonstrating resilience, innovation, and supply-chain independence.
• The BSNL 4G stack, designed to be cloud-native and 5G-ready, provides seamless connectivity and ensures easy future upgrades.
• Complementary initiatives such as the Bharat 6G Alliance, Telecom Technology Development Fund, and 100 5G/6G labs are accelerating India’s journey toward Viksit Bharat 2047 and global digital leadership.
• Key Features of India’s 4G Stack
  • End-to-End Indigenous Stack: Combines Tejas Networks’ Radio Access Network, C-DOT’s Core Network, and TCS integration, cutting reliance on foreign vendors.
  • Cloud-Native Software Architecture: Enables scalability, rapid upgrades, and smooth migration to 5G.
  • Future-Proof Design: The network is 5G-ready, allowing upgrades without replacing existing infrastructure.
  • Nationwide Reach: Deployed across 92,000+ sites, bringing connectivity to 22 million citizens, including tribal and remote areas.

Benefits and Impact of the Indigenous 4G Stack

• Strategic Autonomy and Digital Sovereignty - Empowers India to control its telecom infrastructure, ensuring security, independence, and reduced dependence on global tech providers.
• Digital Inclusion: Enhances access to education, healthcare, and agriculture services through reliable internet in remote regions.
• Secure Connectivity for Armed Forces: Strengthens national security and ensures secure communications for defense personnel.
• Employment and Supply-Chain Development - Boosts domestic manufacturing, generates jobs, and nurtures a skilled workforce, reinforcing India’s telecom ecosystem.
• Global Export Potential - The indigenous 4G stack meets domestic needs while holding export potential, with interest from multiple developing nations.
• Rapid Indigenous Development - Developed in just 22 months, the project highlights India’s engineering capability and agility in telecom innovation.
• Swadeshi Principle in Action - Reflects the Swadeshi ethos, promoting domestic production, local skills, and community enterprise, driving inclusive growth.

India’s 4G Export Plan as a Response to China’s Digital Silk Road

• For years, China’s telecom giants like Huawei and ZTE have dominated developing markets by offering low-cost telecom infrastructure, backed by state funding and easy loans.
• According to the Organisation for Research on China and Asia, this strategy forms part of China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) — a key component of the Belt and Road Initiative aimed at expanding digital connectivity across the developing world.
• The DSR promotes Chinese technology, goods, and services, including cellular networks, mobile apps, and payment platforms, while cementing China’s role as the global supplier of digital infrastructure.
• It represents a state–industry alliance, supported by policy banks and political backing, to strengthen China’s technological and geopolitical influence.