Lok Sabha Question No. 404 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: National Broadband Mission
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Sanjay Jaiswal, Rekha Arun Verma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 404 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2021

## NATIONAL BROADBAND MISSION

- *404.   DR. SANJAY JAISWAL: SHRIMATI REKHA VERMA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of the 'National Broadband Mission' launched across the country along with the details of the targets set by the Government thereunder;
- (b) the  estimated  fund  to  be  allocated  by  the  Government  under  the  said  Mission, State/UT-wise including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh;
- (c) the  number  of  districts  in  Bihar  and  Uttar  Pradesh  likely  to  be  included  under  this Mission; and
- (d) whether the Government has proposed fast track connectivity in the villages including the  villages  of  West  Champaran  district  of  Bihar  under  the  Mission  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, LAW & JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS  (a)  to  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  404  FOR  24 TH MARCH 2021 REGARDING 'NATIONAL BROADBAND MISSION'

(a) National  Broadband  Mission  (NBM)  was  launched  on  17 th December,  2019  with  a vision to enable fast track growth of digital communications infrastructure, bridge the digital divide for digital empowerment and inclusion, and provide affordable and universal access of broadband for all. The Mission, inter-alia, envisages achieving following deliverables:-

- (i) Broadband connectivity to all villages.
- (ii) Availability of high broadband speeds.
- (iii) Acceleration of fiberization.
- (iv) Increasing tower density and fiberization of telecom towers.
- (v) Mapping of fibre.

(b)  &  (c) It  is  envisaged  that  the  expenditure  of  the  Government  through  the  Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) is likely to be approximately Rupees 70, 000 Crore under the National Broadband Mission. The Mission envisages covering all Districts/States of the country including all districts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

(d) The Mission aims to provide all villages of the country, including the villages of West Champaran  district  of  Bihar,    with  access  to  broadband  by  2022  by  utilizing  appropriate technologies,  including  optical  fiber,  radio  networks,  and  satellite.  The  status  of  telecom connectivity in Bihar including the district of West Champaran is placed at Annexure.

## Annexure

## Annexure referred to in reply to part(d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No 404 for 24.03.2021 regarding National Broadband Mission.

## Status of progress of Bihar in telecom infrastructure and services

## (A) Status of Telecom Connectivity in the Country

| S. No.   | Item Particulars                                                                                     | Details     |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|
| 1        | Tele-density (Overall) (as on 31 st January, 2021)                                                   | 87.01%      |
| (i)      | Urban Tele-density (as on 31 st January, 2021)                                                       | 139.25%     |
| (ii)     | Rural Tele-density (as on 31 st January, 2021)                                                       | 59.50%      |
| 2        | Telecom Infrastructure                                                                               |             |
| (i)      | Number of Telecom Towers (as on 31 st January, 2021)                                                 | 6,45,046    |
| (ii)     | Number of Base Transceiver Stations (2G+3G+4G) (as on 31 st January, 2021)                           | 22,67,793   |
| 3        | Census Village Mobile Connectivity                                                                   |             |
| (i)      | Number of Inhabited villages (as per census 2011)                                                    | 5,97,618    |
| (ii)     | Number of villages having mobile coverage (as per information provided by Telecom Service Providers) | 5,72,551    |
| 4        | Status of BharatNet Project in the country (as on 8 th March, 2021)                                  |             |
| (i)      | Total Service ready GPs including Block Headquarters (BHQs)                                          | 1,54,596    |
| (ii)     | Total Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) laid                                                                 | 5,08,328 km |

## (B) Status of Telecom Connectivity in West Champaran District of Bihar

| S. No.   | Scheme/Parameter                                                                                     | Status   |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|
| A.       | Status of BharatNet Project                                                                          |          |
| 1.       | Total Service ready GPs including Block Headquarters (BHQs)                                          | 316      |
| 2.       | Total Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) laid                                                                 | 1146 km  |
| B.       | Mobile Connectivity in the villages                                                                  |          |
| 1.       | Number of Inhabited villages (as per census 2011)                                                    | 1365     |
| 2.       | Number of villages having mobile coverage (as per information provided by Telecom Service Providers) | 1340     |

## (C) Status of Telecom Connectivity in the State of Bihar

| S. No.   | Scheme/Parameter                                                                                     | Status   |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|
| A.       | Status of BharatNet in the State of Bihar                                                            |          |
| 1        | Service ready GPs                                                                                    | 8824     |
| 2        | Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) laid                                                                       | 27307 km |
| B.       | Last Mile Connectivity under BharatNet by CSC SPV in Bihar                                           |          |
| 1        | Wi-Fi Hot-spots installed (GPs)                                                                      | 5345 GPs |
| 2        | Number of Wi-Fi subscribers                                                                          | 42912    |
| 3        | Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections Live                                                            | 22164    |
| C.       | Mobile Connectivity in the villages of Bihar                                                         |          |
| 1.       | Number of Inhabited villages (as per census 2011)                                                    | 39073    |
| 2.       | Number of villages having mobile coverage (as per information provided by Telecom Service Providers) | 38828    |

******