5G reaches 99.9% districts as India’s digital infrastructure expands

India’s infrastructure narrative is increasingly being shaped by digital connectivity and future-ready technologies, alongside traditional assets such as roads, railways and ports, the Economic Survey 2025–26 said, even as gaps in access and usage continue to raise concerns about the depth of digital inclusion.

Presenting the Survey in Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman noted that infrastructure today “is evolving beyond physical networks to encompass digital public infrastructure, clean energy systems, resilient water management and future ready technologies.” The Survey highlighted the rapid expansion of the telecommunications sector over the past decade, with tele-density rising from 75.23 per cent to 86.76 per cent. “Tele-density reached 86.76 per cent, and 5G services are now available in 99.9 per cent of districts in the country,” the Survey said.

The report attributed the growth in digital adoption to affordability, pointing to “sharp declines in wireless data prices” that were associated with an exponential rise in average monthly data consumption. According to the Survey, these trends have helped narrow the digital access divide between rural and urban India, aligning with the government’s vision of a telecom ecosystem that is “Samaveshit, Viksit, Tvarit and Surakshit”.

However, experts caution that headline coverage figures may mask persistent inequalities. While network availability has expanded rapidly, access to high-quality internet, reliable devices and digital literacy remains uneven, particularly in remote rural areas, tribal regions and among low-income households. Industry analysts note that 5G availability at the district level does not automatically translate into affordable or usable 5G services for all consumers, as handset costs and tariff plans remain barriers.

The Survey also highlighted the growing role of information technology infrastructure in supporting digital governance and emerging technologies. As of June 2025, India’s installed data centre capacity stood at around 1,280 MW, supported by 130 private data centres and 49 government-run facilities. “Driven by rapid digitisation and the adoption of technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, IoT and 5G, data centre capacity is projected to expand further to around 4 GW by 2030,” it said. Yet, concerns remain over the concentration of data centres in a few urban hubs, raising questions about regional balance and energy sustainability.

On social infrastructure, the Survey reported progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission, stating that “over 81 per cent of rural households have access to clean tap water” as of October 2025. While this marks a significant improvement in rural living standards, field-level studies have flagged issues related to water quality, supply regularity and long-term source sustainability in some regions.

The government’s broader infrastructure push also spans tourism and space. The revamp of Swadesh Darshan into Swadesh Darshan 2.0 focuses on sustainable tourism, while the PRASHAD scheme supports integrated development of pilgrimage and heritage sites. In the space sector, India operates 56 active space assets and achieved a major milestone in 2025 by becoming “the fourth nation to achieve autonomous satellite docking” under the SpaDeX mission.

Taken together, the Survey presents a picture of rapid infrastructure modernisation driven by digital and technological expansion. At the same time, it underscores the policy challenge ahead ensuring that coverage translates into meaningful, affordable and equitable access, so that the benefits of digital and social infrastructure are shared more evenly across regions and communities.