Lok Sabha Question No. 2428 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-26
Subject: 4G based Mobile Phones
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: RAKESH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2428

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## 4G BASED MOBILE PHONES

†2428. SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there  has  been  sharp  increase  in  the  number  of  consumers  using  4G  based mobile phones since the launch of 4G services;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the number of 4G based mobile phones during each of the last two years, State/UT wise;
- (c) whether the Government has taken note of the fact that telecom operators are unable to maintain the internet speed commensurate with increase in the number of 4G consumers; and
- (d) whether the  Government  has directed the telecom operators to  enhance their infrastructure in proportion to the number of consumers and if so, the details thereof and 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) Madam,  the  4G  Subscribers,  License  Service  Area  (LSA)-wise,  for  the  period ending  March  2017,  March  2018,  and  September  2018  is  enclosed  as Annexure .  The  data exhibits sharp increase in the number of consumers using 4G services.
- (c) The speed of mobile internet is dependent on a number of factors such as the number of users  being  served  and  the  traffic  handled  by  the  cell,  closeness  to  the  tower  serving  the customer,  the  user  equipment/mobile  handset  used  by  the  customer  etc.    As  such,  the  4G mobile users may experience different speeds at different locations and time of usage.
- (d) In order to enhance the infrastructure in proportion to the number of consumers following steps are taken by Government: -
- i. Making  available  sufficient  spectrum  for  mobile  services  including  auction  of 965MHz across the band 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300 and 2500 MHz bands in 2016.
- ii. Allowing Spectrum Sharing, Trading and liberalization of administratively allocated spectrum as per guidelines.
- iii. Permitting sharing of active as well as passive infrastructure by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)for achieving higher utilization efficiency.
- iv. Permitting Internet Protocol based interconnections between TSPs in addition to prevailing arrangements.
- v. Notification of Indian Telegraph Rights of Way Rules, 2016 in November 2016 for regulating underground Infrastructure (optical fiber) and over-ground infrastructure (mobile towers).
- vi. Periodic  review  of  expansion  of  mobile  networks  and  related  improvements carried out by TSPs.

## Licensed Service Area wise 4G subscribers

| S.No.   | Licensed Service Area        |   4G Subscribers as on 31.03.2017 |   4G Subscribers as on 31.03.2018 |   4G Subscribers as on 30.09.2018 |
|---------|------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 1.      | Andhra Pradesh               |                          11048663 |                          22981379 |                          30146852 |
| 2.      | Assam                        |                           1651385 |                           4833307 |                           6935008 |
| 3.      | Bihar                        |                           6329864 |                          16057624 |                          22825245 |
| 4.      | Delhi                        |                          10693278 |                          19246689 |                          23336588 |
| 5.      | Gujarat                      |                           9184243 |                          20619753 |                          26127547 |
| 6.      | Haryana                      |                           3237470 |                           4732449 |                           9815793 |
| 7.      | Himachal Pradesh             |                           1171018 |                           5318606 |                           3312547 |
| 8.      | Jammu & Kashmir              |                           1339607 |                           3292087 |                           4425031 |
| 9.      | Karnataka                    |                           9445022 |                          19624134 |                          25245611 |
| 10.     | Kerala                       |                           4530414 |                          10170309 |                          13418724 |
| 11.     | Kolkata                      |                           4206719 |                           8024130 |                          10072166 |
| 12.     | Madhya Pradesh               |                           6848564 |                          15285589 |                          24449192 |
| 13.     | Maharashtra                  |                           9354650 |                          22917508 |                          31026215 |
| 14.     | Mumbai                       |                           7107062 |                          14599321 |                          17853881 |
| 15.     | North East                   |                           1028919 |                           2888465 |                           4004033 |
| 16.     | Odisha                       |                           2776568 |                           6476190 |                           9227475 |
| 17.     | Punjab                       |                           5824486 |                          12195737 |                          15517656 |
| 18.     | Rajasthan                    |                           6040847 |                          14887957 |                          23119550 |
| 19.     | Tamil Nadu including Chennai |                           9889367 |                          20746138 |                          27424846 |
| 20.     | UP - West                    |                           6227179 |                          14232331 |                          18707149 |
| 21.     | UP - East                    |                           7499959 |                          17997139 |                          25069666 |
| 22.     | West Bengal                  |                           3854128 |                          10679645 |                          15315088 |
|         | Total                        |                         129289412 |                         287806487 |                         387375863 |

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