From 5G to AI: India’s Massive Technological Leap in 11 Years Under Modi Government

TechKranti: From expanding internet connectivity in rural India to the rollout of 5G networks, India has witnessed a remarkable digital transformation between 2014 and 2025. During this period, the country has made significant progress in the field of technology. What has changed?

A Decade of Digital Advancement

Since the Modi government came to power, India has made a massive leap into the digital age. Over the past 11 years (2014–2025), the government has taken the internet to remote regions and significantly strengthened connectivity. The expansion of 5G has brought India’s AI mission closer to reality. Not only the world, but even various parts of India have come closer due to technological advancements.

Nationwide Strengthened Connectivity

Under the Modi government, mobile network coverage in rural areas has grown rapidly. As a result, stable and fast internet services have reached remote parts of the country. This transformation has benefited not just communication, but also education, healthcare, e-governance, and the industrial sector.

The Journey of Digital India

Urban Telephony:
In March 2014, there were 555.23 million urban telephone connections in India. By October 2024, this figure increased to 661.36 million.

Rural Telephony:
Rural telephone connections rose from 377.78 million in March 2014 to 527.34 million in October 2024.

Total Connections:
India had 933 million total telephone connections in March 2014, which increased to over 1.2 billion by April 2025.

Rapid Growth in Internet Penetration

In March 2014, there were 251.5 million internet connections in India. By June 2024, this grew to 969.6 million, marking a 285.53% increase, showcasing the depth of India’s digital revolution.

Broadband Boom

In March 2014, India had only 61 million broadband connections. By August 2024, this number had skyrocketed to 949.2 million, representing a 1,452% increase in subscriber base.

Villages Become Tech-Ready

Since 2016, 4G connectivity has expanded rapidly. As of December 2024, 615,836 villages out of India’s 644,131 villages had access to 4G services – a milestone achievement considered a true technological revolution.

India Accelerates with 5G

5G services were launched in October 2022, giving India’s digital journey a significant boost. In just 22 months, 474,000 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) were installed. Today, 5G services have reached 99.6% of all districts in the country.

Drastic Drop in Internet Prices

In 2014, 1GB of internet data cost Indians up to ₹308. By 2022, the cost fell sharply to just ₹9.34 per GB — a huge economic relief for the common citizen.

BharatNet: Internet Reaches Every Village

As part of the Digital India initiative, the BharatNet project aims to provide internet in rural India. Currently, over 2.18 lakh gram panchayats across the country have internet access. 692,000 km of optical fiber cable has been laid. This initiative has enabled citizens in remote regions to access online education, banking, and government services.

DigiLocker: A Secure Digital Document Repository

The government launched DigiLocker in 2015, allowing citizens to securely store important documents in digital format. In 2015, there were only 998,000 users. By 2024, this number has grown to 203.199 million (20.31 crore).

Looking Ahead

By 2025, India’s digital progress is so significant that by 2030, 20% of the country’s GDP is expected to be driven by the digital economy.