Lok Sabha Question No. 2514 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-30
Subject: 4G Services
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2514 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER, 2016

## 4G SERVICES

2514.  SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL: SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether some private telecom operators are banking on 4G services to tap the rapid growth in data market and the telecom PSUs;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the telecom PSUs, the BSNL and MTNL, also proposes to introduce the 4G services in their service areas;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) if so, whether the Union Government is planning to partner with other parties viz. , private local players to roll out FTTH and Wi-Fi services in a full-fledged manner and if so, the steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) In  order  to  provide  the  technologically  advanced  services  and  tap  the rapid  growth  in  data  market,  some  private  telecom  operators  have  launched  4G services.  As  reported  by  various  Telecom  Service  Providers  (TSPs),  the  details  of launch of 4G services are as follows:
- (i) M/s  Bharti  Airtel  Limited  has  launched  its  4G  services  in  all  service areas across the country except Assam and Jammu & Kashmir service area  and  is  providing  4G  services  in  1900  census  towns  and  10,000 villages.
- (ii) M/s  Idea  Cellular  Limited  has  launched  its  4G  services  in  11  service areas namely Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, North East, Odisha, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.

- (iii) M/s  Reliance  Communications  Limited/  M/s  Reliance  Telecom  Limited has  launched  its  4G  services  in  all  service  areas  across  the  country except Jammu & Kashmir service area and is providing 4G services in 519 District Headquarters and 4350 towns.
- (iv) M/s Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited has launched its 4G services in all service areas across the country and is providing 4G services in 18000 cities and towns and over 2 lakh villages.
- (v) M/s Vodafone India Limited has launched its 4G services in 9 service areas  namely  Delhi,  Gujarat,  Haryana,  Karnataka,  Kerala,  Kolkata, Mumbai,  Uttar  Pradesh  (East)  and  West  Bengal  and  is  providing  4G services in 734 towns/ villages.

(c) & (d) BSNL  plans  to  upgrade  its  network  for  4G  GSM  (Global  System  for Mobile Communication) services through tender. Based on the outcome of the tender, tentatively BSNL may launch its 4G services progressively during next financial year (2017-18). Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) has no immediate plans for launching 4G services, as it has already surrendered 2300 MHz band spectrum.

(e): The telecom services including FTTH and Wi-Fi services are presently being provided  by  the  Licensed  Service  Providers  and  as  per  their business  plan/ requirement they partner with other parties viz. local players to provide their services.

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