Lok Sabha Question No. 1344 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Mobile Connectivity in North East Region
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: VINCENT H PALA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1344 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th   JULY, 2018

## MOBILE CONNECTIVITY IN NORTH EAST REGION

1344. SHRI VINCENT H. PALA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  there  is  no  proper  mobile  connectivity along the border in the North East and the rest of India and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether a joint survey was conducted by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Border Security Force (BSF) in the North East area of the country and if so, the details, the objectives and the outcomes thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that the Indian forces posted at India Bangladesh border are  using  Bangladeshi  SIM  cards  to  connect  with  their  family  and  friends  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (d) the  number  of  mobile  towers  installed  and  proposed  to  be  installed  on  the  International border areas of North East Region along with the time frame set in this regard, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) In most of border areas in the North Eastern Region, there is no proper mobile connectivity as  these  areas  are  remote  and  inaccessible.  Out  of  5,98,004  inhabited  villages  in  the  country, 52,685 inhabited villages are uncovered with mobile services.
- (b) A joint survey was carried out by representatives of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Border Security Force (BSF) to deploy mobile services in border outposts for Central Armed Police  Forces.  A  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  for  the  same  was  prepared  by  BSNL  and  was forwarded to Ministry of Home Affairs.
- (c) There  is  no  such  report  regarding  using  of  Bangladeshi  SIM  Cards  by  the  Indian  forces deployed on Indo-Bangladesh border.
- (d) There  are  262  numbers  of  towers  installed  by  BSNL  along  International  border  areas  of North Eastern Region. State-wise details are at Annexure-I.

Further, the Government has approved a proposal to implement a 'Comprehensive Telecom Development  Plan  for  the  North-Eastern  Region'.  The  Project  envisages  to  provide  mobile coverage to 8621 identified uncovered villages in the North Eastern Region which includes border area villages too. The estimated cost of implementation is Rs. 8120.81 crores and would be funded from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). The details are at Annexure-II.

| Sl. No.   | State             |   No. of Mobile Towers |
|-----------|-------------------|------------------------|
| 1         | Meghalaya         |                     36 |
| 2         | Mizoram           |                     06 |
| 3         | Tripura           |                    188 |
| 4         | Arunachal Pradesh |                      0 |
| 5         | Manipur           |                      3 |
| 6         | Nagaland          |                      0 |
| 7         | Sikkim            |                     11 |
| 8         | Assam             |                     18 |
|           | Total             |                    262 |

## Annexure-I

## Annexure-II

| S. N.   | Scheme                                                                                                                                                   | Number of villages to be covered                                                            | Number of towers                                                                            |   Cost (Rs. Crore) |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|
| 1       | Mobile connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh and 02 districts of Assam (Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao)                                                        | 4119                                                                                        | 2817                                                                                        |            2258.18 |
| 2       | Mobile connectivity in other States of North East (except Meghalaya) and along National Highways (Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim) | 2128                                                                                        | 2004                                                                                        |            1655.66 |
| 3       | Mobile connectivity in Meghalaya on 2G+4G Technology and along National Highway on 2G Technology                                                         | 2374                                                                                        | 2173                                                                                        |            3911    |
| 4       | Augmentation of optical fibre connectivity between State Capitals and District Headquarters                                                              | Augmentation of optical fibre connectivity between State Capitals and District Headquarters | Augmentation of optical fibre connectivity between State Capitals and District Headquarters |             295.97 |
|         | Total Cost                                                                                                                                               | Total Cost                                                                                  | Total Cost                                                                                  |            8120.81 |

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