BSNL and Numaligarh Refinery Limited have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding to deploy India’s first captive non-public 5G network in the refinery sector, a move formalized on August 2, 2025, during an Industry 4.0 Workshop organized under the Ministry of Finance. This collaboration is expected to significantly boost operational efficiency, cybersecurity, and the uptake of advanced technologies such as IoT, AR/VR, and Big Data Analytics in public sector enterprises, supporting the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India initiatives. While the Indian Armed Forces currently rely on the complex, multi-layered encrypted SAMBHAV ecosystem—which operates across commercial 5G networks and integrates secure communication for more than 30,000 personnel—the introduction of dedicated captive 5G networks could address bespoke requirements for ultra-reliable, low-latency operations and enhanced data protection essential to defence and critical infrastructure. Experts note that a captive 5G network, designed for a single entity’s specific needs, may provide tighter control, minimal external dependencies, and superior resilience compared to systems like SAMBHAV, which leverage public networks, marking a crucial step in the evolution of India’s secure digital infrastructure.