Lok Sabha Question No. 376 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Broadband/Internet Facility
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: MANSHANKAR NINAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 376 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 th   DECEMBER, 2018

## BROADBAND/INTERNET FACILITY

†376. SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of gram panchayats in Rajasthan where broadband connectivity has not reached so far;
- (b) the details thereof, district-wise;
- (c) the names of cities in Rajasthan where 4G facility is being provided by BSNL;
- (d) the details threreof; and
- (e) the work plan chalked out by the Government to extend internet facilities in tribal areas of Rajasthan?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) BharatNet project, to connect all the Gram Panchayats (approx. 2.5 lakh) in the country by broadband, including Rajasthan, is being implemented in a phased manner. Under this project, 1859 Gram Panchayats (GPs) are yet to be provided with Broadband connectivity in Rajasthan (District-wise details at Annexure-I).

- (c) & (d) BSNL has not provided 4G facility in the State of Rajasthan.

(e) BharatNet  project  also  covers  tribal areas  of Rajasthan.  This  project is  under implementation and the infrastructure created is national asset, accessible on nondiscriminatory basis to the Service Providers. In Rajasthan, as on 02.12.2018, OFC laying & equipment installation has been completed at 8,447 GPs (including BHQ), which are Service Ready. The connectivity to the remaining Gram Panchayats is under implementation.

As  part  of  BharatNet  project,  the  Last  Mile  connectivity,  through  Wi-Fi  or  any  other suitable broadband technology to access broadband /internet services, is being provided at all the GPs in the country. Every GP is being provided with an average 5 Access Points (APs), i.e. 2  APs  at  Public  places  &  3  APs  at  Government  Institutions  such  as  school,  hospital,  post offices, police station, etc.

Wi-Fi  hotspots  at  the  Gram  Panchayats  in  Rajasthan  are  being  provided  through Government  of  Rajasthan/RISL  (a  PSU  of  State  Government),  with  funding  from  Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). So far, Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed at 6,500 GPs and services are being provided at 2,802 GPs in the State.

## Status of District-wise GPs where broadband connectivity is yet to be provided in Rajasthan

| S.No   | Name of district   |   Number of GPs |
|--------|--------------------|-----------------|
| 1.     | Ajmer              |               6 |
| 2.     | Alwar              |              48 |
| 3.     | Banswara           |             241 |
| 4.     | Baran              |              37 |
| 5.     | Barmer             |             329 |
| 6.     | Bharatpur          |              31 |
| 7.     | Bhilwara           |               0 |
| 8.     | Bikaner            |              37 |
| 9.     | Bundi              |              10 |
| 10.    | Chittorgarh        |              25 |
| 11.    | Churu              |               6 |
| 12.    | Dausa              |              27 |
| 13.    | Dholpur            |              78 |
| 14.    | Dungarpur          |             215 |
| 15.    | Hanumangarh        |               3 |
| 16.    | Jaipur             |              27 |
| 17.    | Jaisalmer          |              67 |
| 18.    | Jalore             |              10 |
| 19.    | Jhalawar           |               1 |
| 20.    | Jhunjhunu          |               0 |
| 21.    | Jodhpur            |             210 |
| 22.    | Karauli            |              75 |
| 23.    | Kota               |               2 |
| 24.    | Nagaur             |              14 |
| 25.    | Pali               |              18 |
| 26.    | Pratapgarh         |              58 |
| 27.    | Rajsamand          |              11 |
| 28.    | Sikar              |               6 |
| 29.    | Sirohi             |              15 |
| 30.    | Sriganganagar      |              96 |
| 31.    | Swaimadhopur       |               9 |
| 32.    | Tonk               |               4 |
| 33.    | Udaipur            |             143 |
|        | Total              |            1859 |

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