The number of Indian villages without 4G connectivity has declined to 11,372 from 45,180 in 2022, a reduction of nearly 75%, according to Department of Telecommunications (DoT) data.
The figures show a net reduction of 33,808 villages in the uncovered category over four years, reflecting the expansion of mobile broadband networks through government-backed projects and private telecom operators’ rollouts.
Part of the improvement has been attributed to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) 4G saturation project. However, the overall decline in uncovered villages exceeds the programme’s initial target of 24,680 villages, indicating that private operators have also contributed to extending coverage.
The saturation project was approved to provide 4G services in remote and difficult areas. Its original scope also included upgrading 6,279 villages with only 2G or 3G connectivity to 4G, alongside provisions to accommodate additional settlements and locations where existing operators withdrew services.
Despite the progress, coverage gaps remain unevenly distributed. Odisha has the highest number of villages without 4G at 1,789, followed by Arunachal Pradesh with 1,518, according to the reported DoT data.
An estimated 40 lakh people may live in villages without 4G reception. Scheduled Tribe-dominated villages account for about 46% of that population, highlighting the continuing challenge of extending mobile broadband to underserved communities.
The decline marks a substantial expansion in network availability, but village-level coverage does not necessarily mean that every household has reliable connectivity or can afford to use it. Device access, service affordability and network quality remain important factors in translating wider coverage into meaningful digital access.
Source: https://www.communicationstoday.co.in/villages-without-4g-fall-to-11372-from-45180-in-2022/
