iWorld
BSNL dials up pride with India’s first homegrown 4G telecom stack
MUMBAI: India has just made a call that will echo worldwide and it’s a truly Swadeshi one. BSNL, in collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), C-DOT, and Tejas Networks, has unveiled the Bharat Telecom Stack, a fully indigenous solution powering 4G and beyond, marking a historic stride towards a digitally self-reliant nation.
With this rollout, India joins an elite club of just five countries globally to have built a homegrown telecom technology stack. What makes it remarkable is the scale and speed the entire project, spanning 100,000 sites, was completed in just two years, making it one of the fastest 4G deployments worldwide.
Executed under a “mission mode” governance model, the project saw TCS establish data centres, integrate C-DOT’s EPC Core Application, and deploy Tejas Networks’ base stations and radio infrastructure, all stitched together with TCS CNOPS, a cognitive platform for 24/7 real-time network management. The rollout integrates seamlessly into BSNL’s existing 2G/3G systems, ensuring connectivity continuity while boosting capacity for the digital era.
For BSNL CMD A Robert J Ravi, the launch was more than technology, it was symbolism: “The nationwide rollout of our indigenous 4G network, built with TCS, Tejas, and C-DOT, is a resounding declaration of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. This ‘Made in Bharat’ stack secures our digital future and bridges the divide like never before.”
The technology isn’t just about speed or spectrum; it’s about sovereignty. By delivering ultra-secure, standards-compliant connectivity, the stack safeguards national security while democratising access enabling online education, telemedicine, e-governance, and citizen services for rural and urban India alike.
BSNL’s director (Consumer Mobility) Sandeep Govil highlighted its transformative potential: “This Swadeshi 4G technology, the result of innovation by C-DOT, Tejas, TCS, and BSNL’s workforce, is engineered for scalability. It is a cornerstone for a digitally inclusive society, ready to evolve to 5G and beyond.”
For TCS and Tejas Networks chairman N Ganapathy Subramaniam, the achievement reinforces India’s tech legacy: “We have put India on the map of only a handful of countries with a comprehensive, trusted, and software-upgradable telecom technology stack. The successful deployment at BSNL is historic, laying the foundation for India’s further contribution to global standards.”
The launch also reflects TCS’s longstanding role in shaping India’s digital infrastructure from modernising stock exchanges and passport services to healthcare and pensions for defence personnel touching millions of lives across decades.
With ultra-high bandwidth, energy efficiency (0.1 W/Gbit, 65 per cent lower than average), and intelligence boosting O&M efficiency by 40 per cent, the Bharat Telecom Stack is more than a national achievement. It is a signal loud and clear that India is ready to lead in telecom innovation, connecting every citizen while setting global benchmarks.
In short: India just built its own dial tone for the future and it’s calling the world to listen.
eNews
Aaj Tak launches video-integrated VPaper with Dailyhunt
Free, early-morning ePaper combines print layout with click-to-watch video
NEW DELHI: Aaj Tak has launched vPaper, a video-integrated ePaper developed in collaboration with Dailyhunt, as it seeks to rework the morning news habit for digital-first audiences.
The product, unveiled on 19 February, 2026, is a 12-page ePaper available free of charge and delivered to readers ahead of traditional newspapers. It combines the structure and editorial depth of print with the immediacy of digital delivery.
What sets vPaper apart is its built-in video functionality. Readers can tap on stories within the ePaper to watch related video reports, integrating Aaj Tak’s television journalism into a newspaper-style format. The “click-to-watch” feature aims to turn passive reading into an interactive experience.
The ePaper spans news, business, sports, education, travel and national affairs, positioning itself as a comprehensive morning briefing for mobile users. Aaj Tak brings editorial credibility and broadcast-scale reporting to the venture, while Dailyhunt provides reach across tier 2, tier 3 and Bharat markets through its distribution network and personalisation technology.
“With vPaper, we are reimagining the morning news experience,” said India Today Group CEO, digital business Salil Kumar. He said the format blends authority, speed and video storytelling while remaining accessible by being free and available before print.
Verse Innovation senior vice-president Sunil Mohapatra, said the partnership strengthens Dailyhunt’s premium news offering and bridges print habits with interactive digital consumption.
The launch reflects a broader push by Indian news publishers to experiment with formats that combine credibility, scale and engagement as audiences increasingly shift to mobile-led news consumption.
(Note: The cover image is AI-generated and meant for representational purposes only)
