84% of Indian population accessing 5G today: Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani

84% of the Indian population can access fifth-generation mobile services today, supported by the rapid roll-outs of 5G networks by telecom operators, a senior Ministry of Communications official said on Monday.

“Today, 84% of our population can access 5G, an unparalleled achievement reached in a remarkably short time. We have developed an entirely indigenous 4G and 5G technology stack, provide near-ubiquitous coverage, and have made data affordable,” Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, minister of state for communications, said at the eighth edition of the ETTelecom 5G Congress 2025.

The day-long event is being organised along with ETTelecom Awards 2025 in the national capital, which will see participation from top telecom operators Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea along with senior government and regulatory officials from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

The availability of affordable data has democratised digital revolution, allowing millions of India to connect with each other, create, and contribute to the digital economy, he added.

Pemmsani said India has not only met but exceeded expectations in 5G roll-outs, setting a new benchmark for rapid and transformative progress.

“From policy reforms to infrastructure expansion, every move by our government was designed for speed, efficiency, and inclusivity,” he added. “The Ministry of Communications and its agencies translated Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s powerful mantra of ‘reform, perform, and transform’ into actionable policies and strategies.”

Recounting reforms, he said the Central government took bold steps such as redefining the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) framework, removing spectrum usage charges (SUC), rationalising bank guarantees, and eliminating interest and penalty burdens on Indian telcos.

“Collectively, these measures reduced the financial load on telecom service providers by an estimated Rs 20,000 crore, breathing new life into the industry,” Pemmasani said.

“Moreover, we transformed spectrum allocation into a transparent and hassle-free process, culminating in India’s largest-ever spectrum auction—with record participation and minimal red tape. Industry confidence soared as spectrum worth Rs 1.34 lakh crore was purchased in the 5G auction,” he added.