Lok Sabha Question No. 2744 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-01-03
Subject: BSNL Mobile Connectivity
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: RAM PRASAD SARMAH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2744 TO BE ANSWERED ON  3 RD  JANUARY, 2018

## BSNL MOBILE CONNECTIVITY

## 2744. SHRI RAM PRASAD SARMAH:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  BSNL  mobile  connectivity  in  rural  and  remote areas of North East particularly in the State of Assam is very poor and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether other private mobile operators have better connectivity in rural and urban areas particularly on national highways;
- (c) if so, the details of the action taken by the Government to improve the mobile service in the State of Assam; and
- (d) the details of BSNL mobile tower established in the State to improve the mobile phone connectivity, district-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) monitors the performance of mobile service providers, against the benchmarks for various quality of service parameters laid down by the Authority through Quality of Service (QoS) Regulations, through Performance Monitoring Reports (PMRs) submitted by service providers for the service area as a whole.

As per PMR for the quarter ending September 2017, submitted by service providers for 2G and 3G services, it is seen that all the service providers are meeting the benchmarks for the parameters 'call drop rate/Circuit Switch Voice drop rate (benchmark < 2%)' and only M/s Aircel is  under  non-compliance  with  the  benchmark  for  2G  and  3G  network  for  parameter  'worst affected cells having more than 3% TCH (Traffic Channel) drop (benchmark < 3%)' in Assam Service area.

Even  though  meeting  all  parameters  of  QoS  benchmarks,  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam Limited  (BSNL)  has  been  expanding  the  coverage  and  capacity  of  mobile  networks  through Phase-VII and Phase-VII+ expansion projects during last few years in North East and Assam based on techno-economical viability.

Government  has  approved  a  proposal  to  implement  a  Comprehensive  Telecom Development Plan for the North-Eastern Region (NER) including Assam.  The project envisages for providing mobile coverage to 2503 identified uncovered villages by installation of about 1874 mobile towers, installation of 33 mobile tower sites along National Highways and strengthening of  transmission  network  in  the  Assam.    The  estimated  cost  of  implementation  is  Rs.1542.19 crore for Assam to be funded from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)

1544 numbers of 2G BTS(Base Transceiver Station) and 1020 numbers of 3G Node-B of BSNL are working in Assam state. District wise detail of BTSs established by BSNL in Assam state is at Annexure.

## Annexure

## District wise detail of 2G and 3G BTSs of BSNL, established in Assam state:

| District           |   2G (BTS) |   3G (NodeB) |   Total |
|--------------------|------------|--------------|---------|
| BAKSA              |         24 |           13 |      37 |
| BARPETA            |         52 |           34 |      86 |
| BONGAIGAON         |         29 |           22 |      51 |
| CACHAR             |        116 |           86 |     202 |
| CHIRANG            |         10 |            4 |      14 |
| DARRANG            |         51 |           13 |      64 |
| DHEMAJI            |         20 |            8 |      28 |
| DHUBRI             |         47 |           26 |      73 |
| DIBRUGARH          |        104 |           72 |     176 |
| DIMA HASAO         |          2 |            0 |       2 |
| GOALPARA           |         34 |           14 |      48 |
| GOLAGHAT           |         52 |           31 |      83 |
| HAILAKANDI         |         35 |           20 |      55 |
| JORHAT             |         79 |           57 |     136 |
| KAMRUP             |        111 |           70 |     181 |
| KAMRUP (METRO)     |        210 |          226 |     436 |
| KARBI ANGLONG      |         41 |           21 |      62 |
| KARIMGANJ          |         45 |           27 |      72 |
| KOKRAJHAR          |         27 |           15 |      42 |
| LAKHIMPUR          |         22 |            7 |      29 |
| MORIGAON           |         30 |           11 |      41 |
| NAGAON             |        133 |           79 |     212 |
| NALBARI            |         31 |           19 |      50 |
| NORTH CACHAR HILLS |         14 |            9 |      23 |
| SIVASAGAR          |         77 |           47 |     124 |
| SONITPUR           |         73 |           38 |     111 |
| TINSUKIA           |         57 |           44 |     101 |
| UDALGURI           |         18 |            7 |      25 |
| Grand Total        |       1544 |         1020 |    2564 |

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