Lok Sabha Question No. 1330 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Telecom Advisory Committee
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: JITENDRA CHAUDHURY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1330

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD   NOVEMBER, 2016

## TELECOM ADVISORY COMMITTEE

1330. SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  year  in  which  the  practice  of  Telecom  Advisory  Committee  (TAC)  has come into being;
- (b) the  number  of  service  providers,  approximate  number  of  consumers  and number of services that were available during that period;
- (c) the number of service providers, both in Public and Private sector, number of services available and number of consumers at present;
- (d) whether the Government shall consider to redefine the role and jurisdiction of the TACs by bringing all the service providers and services under its purview for the benefit of wider participation and public scrutiny; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the role of TAC in telecom sector?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Madam,  as  per  records  available,  Telephone  Advisory  Committees  (TACs) were formed in 1942.
- (b) This information is not available.
- (c) The details of number of service providers, both in public and private sector, number  of  services  available  and  number  of  consumers  as  on  30.06.2016  are  as under :

| Services                                  | No. of Service Providers   | No. of Service Providers   | No. of Service Providers   | No. of Subscribers (in Millions)   | No. of Subscribers (in Millions)   | No. of Subscribers (in Millions)   |
|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|                                           | Private                    | PSU                        | Total                      | Private                            | PSU                                | Total                              |
| Wireless                                  | 9                          | 2                          | 11                         | 941.98                             | 93.13                              | 1035.11                            |
| Wireline                                  | 6                          | 2                          | 8                          | 7.06                               | 17.68                              | 24.74                              |
| Internet                                  | 133                        | 9                          | 142                        | 314.06                             | 36.42                              | 350.48                             |
| Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT)       | 6                          | 2                          | 8                          | 0.25                               | 0.024                              | 0.274                              |
| Public Mobile Radio Trunk Services(PMRTS) | 8                          | 0                          | 8                          | 0.052                              | 0.00                               | 0.052                              |
| Public Call Office (PCO)                  | 5                          | 2                          | 7                          | 0.062                              | 0.46                               | 0.522                              |
| Village Public Telephone (VPT)            | 2                          | 1                          | 3                          | 0.004                              | 0.58                               | 0.584                              |

- (d)&(e) Madam, at present, no such proposal is under consideration. The role of Telephone Advisory Committee(TAC) in telecom sector is as under:-
- (i). TAC act as interface between telephone consumers of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited(MTNL).
- (ii). Giving the public a confidence  that their grievances  are properly represented as well  as redressed.
- (iii). Educating  public/bring  awareness  among  telephone  consumers  about the   various services provided by BSNL/MTNL.
- (iv).    Suggesting measures for efficiency.

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