• Villages without 4G coverage fall from 45,180 in 2022 to 11,372 in 2026.
• BSNL commissions 18,291 sites under the 4G Saturation Project.
• Sites record more than 1.86 crore GB of data consumption in October 2026.
• Government sanctions 26,000 additional mobile network sites.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 12th Nov: Rural 4G connectivity across India has expanded substantially, with the number of villages without 4G coverage declining by nearly 75% in four years, from 45,180 in 2022 to 11,372 in 2026, according to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

The government’s 4G Saturation Project has played a key role in extending mobile network services to remote and underserved areas. The initiative was designed to provide 4G connectivity to 24,680 previously unconnected villages, with private telecom operators also contributing through network expansion.

Under the project, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has commissioned 18,291 mobile sites. These installations are recording substantial data usage, indicating growing reliance on mobile connectivity in rural communities.

In October 2026, the commissioned sites served a maximum of 10,21,048 active users in a single day. Total data consumption during the month exceeded 1.86 crore GB, averaging around 18.3 GB per user. Each site served approximately 56 active users on average.

To address the remaining connectivity gaps, the government has sanctioned an additional 26,000 mobile network sites for the next phase of expansion.

The DoT said extending connectivity to geographically challenging locations remains a key task due to difficult terrain, high infrastructure costs, scattered settlements and remote tribal habitations. The department is coordinating with BSNL and other telecom service providers to address these challenges.

Going forward, the government plans to prioritise unconnected villages, particularly in remote, tribal and aspirational regions. Network-sharing arrangements and better utilisation of existing telecom infrastructure are also expected to support expansion.

The initiative aims to improve rural access to digital governance, education, healthcare, financial services and other essential online platforms, as the government works towards wider digital inclusion.