Lok Sabha Question No. 3615 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-08
Subject: Expansion of Telecommunication Services
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3615 TO BE ANSWERED ON 8 TH   AUGUST, 2018

## EXPANSION OF TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES

†3615. SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  formulated/proposed  to  formulate  any  special scheme for expansion of telecommunication services in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details thereof and the target fixed by the Government to complete the network rollout at gram panchayat level in the country along with the time by which the said target is likely to be achieved;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  convert  all  gram  panchayats  into  epanchayats; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) The following schemes are being implemented/ planned with support from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for expansion of telecommunication services in the country:

## I. BharatNet:

BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (approx. 2,50,000) in the country. As part of  this  project,  the  last  mile  connectivity,  through  Wi-Fi  or  any  other  suitable broadband technology, is being provided at all the GPs in the country. At each GP, 5  Access Points (APs) are being set up, out of which 3 APs are at Government institutions and 2 APs at public places.

In  December  2017,  the  phase-I  of  the  BharatNet  project  was  completed  by connecting one lakh GPs. A modified strategy to implement BharatNet has been approved by Cabinet on 19.07.2017, which provides an optimal mix of media to connect  GPs,  implementation  by  State-led  Model,  Private  Sector,  CPSU  Model,

laying of fresh fibre from Block to GPs and setting up of last mile architecture at all GPs.  As  on  30.07.2018,  the  number  of  Service  Ready  GPs  are  1,13,549.  The project is targeted to be completed by March 2019.

## II. Provision of mobile services in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas:

## i) LWE Phase-I:

Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited  has  executed  the  LWE  Phase-I  project  with financial  support  from  USOF  for  providing  mobile  connectivity  at  2355  tower locations, identified by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in the Left Wing Extremism affected areas with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 4081 crore. As on date 2335 tower locations are radiating.

## ii) LWE Phase-II:

The  Cabinet  has  approved  a  project  proposal  of  LWE  Phase-II  for  providing mobile connectivity in inhabited and uncovered villages at 4072 tower locations, identified by MHA, in the Left Wing Extremism affected areas in 10 States with an estimated  cost  of  Rs.  7,330  crores  (plus  applicable  taxes)  using  2G  +  4G technology. The project is targeted to be rolled out within 18 months from the date of signing the agreement with the implementing agency to be selected through a competitive bidding process.

## III. Mobile coverage of uncovered villages:

The  Government  has  planned  to  provide  mobile  coverage  in  inhabited  and uncovered  villages  of  the  country  in  a  phased  manner  subject  to  availability  of funds/resources. DoT is in the process of identification of uncovered villages of the country.

## IV. Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for Andaman & Nicobar Islands:

## i) Submarine  OFC Connectivity between Mainland India (Chennai) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands:

A  Project  on  Submarine  Optical  Fibre  Cable  (OFC)  connectivity  from  mainland India (Chennai) to Andaman & Nicobar Islands is being implemented, which will provide  necessary  bandwidth for  providing  broadband  connectivity.  BSNL  has been  nominated  as  project  execution  agency.  On  the  basis  of  transparent tendering process, BSNL has awarded the work to its vendor on 26.06.2018. The timelines are 24 Months from date of issue of the work order.

## ii) Provision of 2G+4G Mobile Coverage in Uncovered Villages and seamless 2G+4G Mobile coverage of NH 223 in Andaman & Nicobar Islands:

For provisioning  of  2G+4G  mobile  coverage  in  144  uncovered  villages  and seamless  2G+4G  mobile  coverage  of  NH  223  in  Andaman  &  Nicobar  Islands, tender  has  been  floated  on  04.06.2018. The  tentative  timelines  are  to  be  12 Months from date of issue of the work order.

## V. Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for Lakshadweep Islands:

- i) Satellite bandwidth for Lakshadweep Islands is to be augmented from 102 Mbps to 318 Mbps by BSNL. The project is targeted to be completed by September 2018.
2. ii) The project for Augmentation of 2G Mobile Coverage with  EDGE Technology in Lakshadweep Islands is under implementation.

## VI. Comprehensive  Telecom  Development  Plan  (CTDP)  for  the  North-Eastern Region (NER):

A  Comprehensive  Telecom  Development  Plan  (CTDP)  for  the  North-Eastern Region (NER) to install 6673 mobile towers for 8621 identified uncovered villages, 321  mobile  towers  for  National  Highways  and  strengthening  of  transmission network in the NER is being implemented.

(c) & (d) Ministry of Panchayati Raj is implementing an e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) under Digital India Programme that seeks to transform the functioning of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), making them more transparent, accountable and effective  as  units  of  decentralized  local  self-governments.  Under  e-Panchayat  MMP,  a suite  of  core  common  software  applications  has  been  developed  to  address  various aspects  of  the  Panchayats'  functioning,  including  planning,  budgeting,  implementation, accounting,  monitoring,  social  audit  and  delivery  of  citizen  services  like issue  of certificates,  licences,  etc.  For  bringing  transparency  and  accountability,  all  records available in these applications are published online and information is available up to the Gram Panchayat level.

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