Lok Sabha Question No. 2360 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-26
Subject: Rural Telephone Density
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2360 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## RURAL TELEPHONE DENSITY

- †2360. SHRI SADASHIV LOKHANDE:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to bring rural telephone density at par with urban areas;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has received any recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  for  overhauling  the  existing  telecom  policy  for enabling rapid expansion of telecom services in villages;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  for  implementing  the  said recommendations and if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Government has taken following steps to improve rural telephone density.
- (1) Provision of mobile connectivity in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas:
- (i) LWE  Phase-I  project  by  providing  mobile  connectivity  through  2341  mobile towers.
- (ii) LWE Phase-II  project  being  planned  for  providing  mobile  connectivity  at  4072 MHA locations.
- (2) Comprehensive  Telecom  Development  Plan  for  mobile  connectivity  in  North Eastern  Region  (NER) to install 6673  mobile towers for 8621  identified uncovered villages, 321 mobile towers for National Highways and strengthening of transmission network in the region.
- (3) Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for Andaman & Nicobar Islands:
- (i) Submarine Optical Fibre Cable connectivity  between Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar.

- (ii) Satellite  Bandwidth Augmentation for Andaman & Nicobar from 260 Mbps to 2 Gbps  and  augmentation  of  Intra  Island  OFC  network  in  Andaman  &  Nicobar Islands.
- (iii) Mobile connectivity in  Andaman & Nicobar Islands to cover uncovered villages and seamless coverage on National Highway (NH 223).
- (4) Lakshadweep: Augmentation of Satellite bandwidth from 102 Mbps to 1.71 Gbps.
- (5) BharatNet Project: BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to  create  network  to  connect  all  the  Gram  Panchayats  (approx  2.5  lakh)  by broadband  in the country. This project is  under  implementation and  the infrastructure created will be a national asset, accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to the Service Providers. As on 16.12.2018, by laying 3,03,560 Km Optical Fibre Cable (OFC), OFC laying and equipment installation has been completed at 1,16,543 Gram Panchayats, which are service ready.

(c) to (e) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had submitted their input for formulation of National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) - 2018) which, inter-alia, included  inputs  for  enabling  expansion  of  telecom  services  in  villages.  Based  on  the inputs from TRAI and other stakeholders, NDCP-2018 has been notified in the Gazette of  India  dated  22.10.2018  with  a  vision  to  support  India's  transition  to  a  digitally empowered  economy  and  society  by  fulfilling  the  information  and  communications needs  of  citizens  and  enterprises  by  establishment  of  a  ubiquitous,  resilient  and affordable Digital Communications Infrastructure and Services.

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