Lok Sabha Question No. 362 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: BSNL Towers in Villages
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: PRALHAD VENKATESH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 362 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 th   DECEMBER, 2018

## BSNL TOWERS IN VILLAGES

362. SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the norms laid down by the Government for installation of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) towers in villages located in remote/inaccessible areas especially in hilly regions;
- (b) whether  population  of  villages  is  the  basis  for  the  said  norms  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to implement any scheme to address the problems being faced by the residents of naxal affected and farflung villages who do not have access to phone facilities;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  the  said  scheme  is  likely  to  be implemented; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited  (BSNL),  based  on    technical  feasibility  and commercial  viability  sets  up    Base  Transceiver  Stations  (BTSs).While  installing  BTS,  BSNL gives priority  to villages having population of more than 5000.
- (c) to (e) Schemes  funded  by  Universal  Service  Obligation  Fund  (USOF)  for  building telecom connectivity in  naxal affected and remote villages, are as follows:
- (i) Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas: Cabinet on 23.05.2018 has approved a project  proposal  for  providing  the  mobile  services  in  inhabited  and  uncovered villages of the LWE areas in 4072 tower locations under LWE Phase-II project with timeline of 18 months from the date of signing the agreement with the implementing agency. Implementation of the project has been initiated.
- (ii) Uncovered Villages: Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is in the process of identification  of  uncovered  villages  in  the  country  to  provide  mobile  coverage  in inhabited  and  uncovered  villages  in  a  phased  manner  subject  to  availability  of funds/resources.
- (iii)  Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Project for provisioning of mobile services (2G and 4G)  to  uncovered  villages  and  seamless  coverage  on  NH223  in  Andaman  and Nicobar Islands has been formulated.  The project will be rolled out within 12 months from the date of signing the agreement.

- (iv)  North Eastern Region (NER): Following measures have been taken for expansion of mobile coverage in NER:
-  Under  Comprehensive  Telecom  Development  for  NER,  USOF  has  signed  an agreement with BSNL to install 2817 mobile towers for providing mobile coverage in 4119 uncovered villages of Arunachal Pradesh and two districts of Assam.
-  USOF signed agreement with M/s Bharti Airtel Limited and M/s Bharti Hexacom Limited  to  install  2004  mobile  towers  for  providing  mobile  coverage  in  2128 villages and National Highways in NER (except Meghalaya).
-  On 23.05.2018, Cabinet has approved revised proposal for provision of  mobile services  on  2G+4G  technology  for  installation  of  2173  mobile  towers  in  2374 uncovered villages and along National Highways in Meghalaya.
- (v) BharatNet: BharatNet is being implemented to provide broadband connectivity to all the  Gram  Panchayat  by  laying  Optical  Fibre  Cable  (OFC)  or  any  other  suitable media.  This network is a national asset to be provided to service providers on nondiscriminatory basis.

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