New Delhi, February 9: The government announced on Monday that India has improved its position in the global ‘Network Readiness Index 2025’. The country has climbed four spots to reach the 45th position. Furthermore, India has outperformed many other nations in several key indicators.
This report was released by the Portulans Institute, an independent and non-profit research and educational organization based in Washington, D.C. It assesses the digital and network readiness of 127 countries worldwide.
The Ministry of Communications stated that not only has India improved its ranking, but its overall score has also increased. In 2024, India scored 53.63 out of 100, which has risen to 54.43 in 2025. The ministry highlighted that India has ranked first in several metrics.
Countries were ranked based on four main criteria: TECHNOLOGY, people, governance, and impact. A total of 53 different indicators were studied under these categories.
According to the report, India ranks first in areas such as annual investment in Telecom Services, scientific research papers related to artificial intelligence (AI), exports of IT and communication services, and e-commerce laws. Additionally, India secured the second position in fiber internet connections, mobile internet usage within the country, and international internet capacity. In terms of domestic market size and income inequality, India ranked third.
The Ministry of Communications noted that India’s network readiness is better than its income level suggests. Among low-income middle-class countries, India ranks second, reflecting its digital advancement.
Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia recently stated that India offers the cheapest data in the world, with the highest usage rates. He mentioned that due to a robust Digital Infrastructure, the country has over 1.2 billion mobile users, and by June, the 4G network is expected to reach every village.
The state-owned telecom company BSNL has established 97,068 4G sites so far, with 93,511 sites currently operational. BSNL is working on plans to upgrade all its 4G towers to 5G in the coming months.
Moreover, 5G services have been launched across all states and union territories, currently available in 99.9% of the districts in the country.
Telecom companies have set up a total of 508,000 5G base transceiver stations (BTS) in both rural and urban areas, further strengthening India’s digital capabilities.
