Lok Sabha Question No. 3606 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-08
Subject: Mobile Towers in Madhya Pradesh
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3606 TO BE ANSWERED ON 8 TH   AUGUST, 2018

## MOBILE TOWERS IN MADHYA PRADESH

†3606. SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) the  action  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  install  mobile  towers  in  the remote areas of Madhya Pradesh which are still deprived of them and the time by when the communication revolution is likely to be realised in such far flung areas; and

- (b) the time by which Digital India Programme is likely to achieve its objectives?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The Government is making all efforts to provide affordable tele-connectivity to all inhabited areas of the country including Madhya Pradesh.

As  a  result  of  the  continuous  efforts  put-in  by  the  Government  and  Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), total tele-density of wireless subscribers in Madhya Pradesh License  Service  Area,  comprising  of  States  of  Madhya  Pradesh  &  Chhattisgarh,  has shown an improvement from 56.06 % in March 2014 to 66.10 % in March 2018. Rural wireless tele-density has proportionally increased from 33.67 % to 43.69 %.

Out  of  51929  inhabited  villages  in  the  State,  46371  villages  are  provided  with mobile  services,  as  on  28 th   July  2018  (based  on  2018  survey).  Left  Wing  Extremism (LWE) affected areas and sparsely populated areas in the State pose some challenges for installation & operations of mobile networks on sustainable basis.

Hence, the Government has been providing necessary support through Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) to establish telecom facilities in un-connected areas of the State. As a result, 22 BTS have been already installed under Phase-I of Scheme for mobile services in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas and approval for additional 26 tower-locations under Phase-II has been accorded.

As  part  of  on-going  Bharat-Net  project  to  connect  250,000  GPs  in  the  country, Optical Fiber Cable has been laid to connect 12685 Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the State out  of  which  12661  GPs  are  service-ready,  as  on 29 th   July  2018. This  infrastructure  is available to all TSPs on non-discriminatory basis.

BSNL is also expanding its mobile network by undertaking addition of 3021 BTS for 2G/3G services, of which 1120 have been installed by 30 th  June 2018.

(b) The  National  Digital  Communications  Policy,  2018  (NDCP)  envisages  Mission 'Connect  India'  for  creating  a  robust  digital  communication  infrastructure  by  providing universal broadband coverage at 50 Mpbs to every  citizen, 10 Gbps connectivity to all Gram Panchayats and public Wi-Fi hotspots to reach 10 million by the year 2022. The Mission is aimed  at promoting  Broadband  for  All as a tool for  socio-economic development while ensuring service quality and environmental sustainability.

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