Lok Sabha Question No. 6036 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Rising Call Rates
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: ARJUNLAL MEENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6036 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  APRIL, 2018

## RISING CALL RATES

†6036. SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to introduce any new scheme to reduce the rising rate of phone calls in the country;

- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(c) the measures taken by the Government to provide phone connectivity across the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) & (b) As  per  the  existing  tariff  framework,  tariff  for  telecommunication  access service  is  under  forbearance  except  for  National  Roaming  and  Rural  Fixed  Line Services.  The service providers have the flexibility to decide various tariff components for  different  service  areas  of  their  operation.  Tariffs  are  offered  by  service  providers taking into account several factors including input costs, level of competition and other commercial considerations. The average outgo for voice services in India has shown a continuous  downward  trend,  particularly  in  the  recent  past.  Details  are  shown  in  the Table below.

## Average outgo for Voice

| Quarter Ending   |   Average outgo per minute (Rs.) |
|------------------|----------------------------------|
| Jun-16           |                             0.49 |
| Sep-16           |                             0.48 |
| Dec-16           |                             0.44 |
| Mar-17           |                             0.31 |
| Jun-17           |                             0.27 |
| Sep-17           |                             0.23 |
| Dec-17           |                             0.19 |

- (c)   the measures taken by the Government to provide phone connectivity across the country are as under: -
- (i) Bharat  Net  Project  is  being  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to connect all Gram Panchayats (approx. 2,50,000) in the country. In December  2017,  Phase-I  of  Bharat  Net  has  been  completed  by connecting one lakh GPs. As on 25.03.2018, by laying 2,68,963 km Optical  Fibre  Cable  (OFC),  a  total  of  1,13,964  Gram  Panchayats (GPs) have been connected, of which 1,04,889 Gram Panchayats have been made service ready. As part of this project, the last mile connectivity, through Wi-Fi or any other suitable broadband technology  is  to  be  provided  at  all  the  GPs  in  the  country.  The project is targeted to be completed by March 2019.
- (ii) Under Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for NER, USOF has signed an agreement with BSNL, to install 2817 mobile towers for  providing  mobile  (including  data)  coverage  in  4119  uncovered villages at an estimated cost of Rs. 2258 Cr.
- (iii) Agreement has also been signed with M/s Bharti Airtel limited and M/s  Bharti  Hexacom  Limited  to  install  2004  mobile  towers  for providing  mobile  (including  data)  coverage  in  2128  villages  and National Highways in NER.
- (iv) Department  of  Telecom  executed  Phase-  I  project  for  providing Mobile  Services  in  2355  locations  in  Left Wing  Extremism  (LWE) affected areas. As on date 2329 towers are radiating. Aproposal for providing  mobile  services  (including  data  service)  at  4072  MHA identified  locations  in  LWE  affected  area  in  Phase-II  has  been recommended by Telecom Commission with an estimated cost for Rs. 7,330/Crores (excluding taxes). The  proposal is being submitted to Cabinet.
- (v)   Virtual Network Operators (VNO) have been introduced. VNOs can provide voice, data and video services within a licensing framework, without owning spectrum or network infrastructure.

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