Lok Sabha Question No. 594 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Internet Connectivity in Rural India
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Aparajita Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 594 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## INTERNET CONNECTIVITY IN RURAL INDIA

## 594. SHRIMATI APARAJITA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS  be pleased to state:

- (a) the percentage of households in rural India who have access to internet connectivity, Statewise;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  increase  internet  access  among  rural households across the country including the State of Odisha;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefore?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) There  are  29.83  rural  internet  subscribers  per  100  population  in  the  country  as  on  31 st December  2019  as  per  latest  'The  Indian  Telecom  Services  Performance  Indicators'  report  of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) dated 30 th June 2020. The License Service Area-wise details are at Annexure.

- (b) Yes, Sir.
- (c) BharatNet project implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband/internet connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country, includes Odisha. A total of 1,43,885 GPs is made Service Ready as on 04.09.2020, including 4522 in Odisha.
- (d) Question does not arise.

## Annexure referred to in reply to part(a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred   Question No.594 for 16.09.2020.

License Service Area-wise number of Internet Subscribers per 100   populations at the end of December-2019

| Sl. No.   | License Service Area   | No. of Internet Subscribers per 100 population   |
|-----------|------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh         | 36.63                                            |
| 2.        | Assam                  | 27.47                                            |
| 3.        | Bihar                  | 21.69                                            |
| 4.        | Delhi                  | 98.97                                            |
| 5.        | Gujarat                | 34.56                                            |
| 6.        | Haryana                | 36.75                                            |
| 7.        | Himachal Pradesh       | 58.29                                            |
| 8.        | Jammu &Kashmir         | 16.58                                            |
| 9.        | Karnataka              | 40.74                                            |
| 10.       | Kerala                 | 39.00                                            |
| 11.       | Madhya Pradesh         | 23.88                                            |
| 12.       | Maharashtra            | 39.93                                            |
| 13.       | Mumbai                 |                                                  |
| 14.       | North East             | 35.94                                            |
| 15.       | Odisha                 | 32.94                                            |
| 16.       | Punjab                 | 47.49                                            |
| 17.       | Rajasthan              | 32.99                                            |
| 18.       | Tamil Nadu             | 50.42                                            |
| 19.       | UP(East)               | 21.64                                            |
| 20.       | UP(West)               |                                                  |
| 21.       | Kolkata                | 25.05                                            |
| 22.       | West Bengal            |                                                  |
|           | Total                  | 29.83                                            |

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