4G saturation project: villages without 4G fall from 45,180 to 11,372
The Department of Telecom said on 11 November 2026 that villages without 4G connectivity have fallen by about 75 per cent in four years. This affects rural people whose villages are now getting mobile network coverage.
What this means for you
If your village had no 4G so far, it is more likely to get network under this government project. Ordinary people do not need to fill any form and there is no date by which they must do anything. More information is available on the Department of Telecom's social media handles.
Key facts
- Villages without 4G in 2022: 45,180
- Villages without 4G in 2026: 11,372
- About 75 per cent fall in four years
- '4G saturation' project was made for 24,680 villages
- 18,291 BSNL sites running in rural areas
- 26,000 more mobile network sites approved for the next phase
What has happened
The Department of Telecom said on 11 November 2026 that the number of villages without 4G connectivity has fallen by about 75 per cent in four years. In 2022 there were 45,180 such villages, and in 2026 the number is 11,372.
According to the department, this is a big step in expanding digital connectivity in rural India.
What the ‘4G saturation’ project is
The project was made to bring 4G to 24,680 villages that had no connectivity earlier. The aim was that people in remote and low-facility areas could also use reliable mobile services and digital facilities.
Private telecom companies have also contributed by expanding their networks in rural areas.
How much BSNL sites are used
Under the project, BSNL has started 18,291 sites, which are carrying a lot of data traffic in rural areas. In October 2026, these sites had a maximum of 10,21,048 active users in a day.
These users used more than 1.86 crore GB of data in total, which works out to an average of 18.3 GB per user per month. Each site serves about 56 active users on average.
What happens next
The government has approved 26,000 more mobile network sites in the next phase to cover the remaining gaps. The department says difficult terrain, high infrastructure cost, scattered settlements and remote tribal areas remain big challenges for reaching connectivity.
Going ahead, the department will give priority to remote, tribal and aspirational areas. This will be done by setting up more sites, expanding network sharing and using existing infrastructure better.
What this means for ordinary people
The direct benefit is for people in rural areas where the network is weak or absent. The department says this will help villages use digital governance, education, health services and financial services.
Note that this information gives no application, form or deadline for ordinary people. More details are available on the Department of Telecom’s social media handles.
Questions and answers
What is the 4G saturation project?
It is a Department of Telecom project made to bring 4G connectivity to 24,680 villages that had no connectivity earlier. The aim is to give far-off areas reliable mobile service.
How many villages still do not have 4G?
The number of villages without 4G connectivity is stated as 11,372 in 2026. In 2022 this number was 45,180.
Do I need to do anything for this?
No. This is information about the government expanding the network; it gives no application or deadline for ordinary people.
What happens in the next phase?
The government has approved 26,000 more mobile network sites. The department will give priority to remote, tribal and aspirational areas.
Where can I get more information?
Information is given on the Department of Telecom's X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube handles.
Source: PIB, "सरकार ने 4-जी संतृप्त परियोजना' के माध्यम से ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में 4-जी कनेक्टिविटी को मज़बूत किया", 11 November 2026. Read the original notice
This routine notice was drafted with AI from an official source and published automatically; an editor reviews it after publishing. Report an error