Lok Sabha Question No. 811 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Achievements in Communication Sector
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Chandra Prakash Joshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 811 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  JUNE, 2019

## ACHIEVEMENTS IN COMMUNICATION SECTOR

## †811. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

|                                                                                                                                                                   | Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:                                                                                                          |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (a) the                                                                                                                                                           | the details of the achievements made by the Government in communication sector during last two years;                                                             |
| (b) Prime                                                                                                                                                         | whether any presentation on the achievements was made by the Ministry before the Minister during the last two years and if so, the details thereof;               |
| (c)                                                                                                                                                               | whether the Ministry has reduced its target and if so, the details thereof;                                                                                       |
| (d) revolution                                                                                                                                                    | whether any road map has been prepared by the Government for the communication in the next three years and if so, the details thereof;                            |
| (e) Minister;                                                                                                                                                     | the details of the problems and the remedies, suggestions stated in front of Prime and                                                                            |
| (f)                                                                                                                                                               | the key focus areas of the Ministry for the next three years?                                                                                                     |
| ANSWER                                                                                                                                                            | ANSWER                                                                                                                                                            |
| (a)                                                                                                                                                               | The details of achievements made by the Government in the communication sector during the last two years are placed at Annexure-I                                 |
| (b)                                                                                                                                                               | No, Sir.                                                                                                                                                          |
| (c)                                                                                                                                                               | No, Sir.                                                                                                                                                          |
| (d) The road map for holistic development of the telecom sector, as envisaged in the National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP)-2018 is given at Annexure-II . | (d) The road map for holistic development of the telecom sector, as envisaged in the National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP)-2018 is given at Annexure-II . |
| (e)                                                                                                                                                               | Does not arise in view of (b) above.                                                                                                                              |
| (f)                                                                                                                                                               | Key focus areas of the Department for the next three years are as under:                                                                                          |
|                                                                                                                                                                   | i. Auction of spectrum, especially for developing the 5G ecosystem in the country.                                                                                |

- ii. Laying of OFC under phase II of BharatNet programme.
- iii. Working for the objectives of National Digital Communications Policy -2018
- iv. Providing connectivity to remote, rural and uncovered areas through implementation of:
4.  Phase-II of the project for Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected States
5.  To connect mainland India with the Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) and Lakshadweep Islands by laying of submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC)
6.  A Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for the North East Region (NER)

## ANNEXURE - I

## ACHIEVEMENTS  OF  DEPARTMENT  OF  TELECOM  DURING  THE  LAST  TWO YEARS

Some of the major achievements are:

## 1. National Digital Communications Policy-2018

The  National  Digital  Communications  Policy-2018  (NDCP-2018)  was  approved  which envisions  supporting  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.

## 2. Economic Impact

- i. As of March 2019, mobile connections in India have touched 1161.71 million
- ii. Internet connections which were 422.19 million at the end of March 2017 have grown to 636.73 million by the end of March, 2019 thus registering a growth of 50.82%
- iii. The  number  of  subscribers  accessing  internet  via  wireless  phones  increased  by 53.52% from 400.62 million in 2016-17 to  615.05 million at the end of March 2019
- iv. The number of Broadband subscribers increased by more than two times, from 276.52 million in 2017 to 563.31 million in 2019
- v. Internet  traffic  also  witnessed  phenomenal  growth,  touching  highest  ever  data usage of 46.23 million terabytes in 2018.
- vi. Data consumption increased from 0.87 GB in 2016 to 8.74 GB in 2018 per month per subscriber
- vii. The cost of data has reduced from Rs 160 per GB in 2016 to Rs 10.52 per GB in 2018.

## 3.  Key Reforms in the Telecom Sector

- i. Spectrum trading and sharing allowed to boost competition
- ii. Spectrum harmonization undertaken resulting in freeing up of 197 MHz spectrum
- iii. Sharing  of  Passive  (e.g.  fibre,  towers)  and  Active  (e.g.  BTSs)  infrastructure allowed
- iv. Easing of Right of Way (RoW) Rules and charges through notification
- v. Full Mobile Number Portability enabled
- vi. Virtual Network Operators (VNOs) license introduced for effective infrastructure utilization and to boost services in under-served areas
- vii. Flight and Maritime Connectivity Rules, 2018 have been published in Gazette of India  on  14.12.2018,  to  provide  voice  or  data  or  both  type  of  services,  on  the hitherto  unconnected  ships  within  Indian  Territorial  waters  and  on  aircraft  in Indian airspace
- viii. Public  Procurement  (Preference  to  Make  in  India)  Order  2017,  notified  for telecom products, services and works for telecom sector on 29.08.2018 to ensure reasonable market access for domestic companies thus enabling them to scale up their production and get more competitive.

## 4.  Telecom Infrastructure

- i. No. of mobile BTS more than doubled from 7.9 Lakh in May 2014 to ~ over 21 lakh in June 2019
- ii. More than 3 Lakh km High Speed Optical Fibre Cable (OFC)  laid

.

- iii. 1.20 lakh Gram Panchayats connected through High Speed Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) network
- iv. Significant  boost  to  Make-in-India;  Telecom  equipment  deployed  in  BharatNet has been fully designed, developed and manufactured in India.
- v. Triggered ITI turnaround; turned Profitable for first time in 16 years

## 5.  Other Projects being undertaken

- (a)  Network for Spectrum: Almost 94% of targeted OFC has been laid.
- (b)  For  Left  Wing  Extremism  (LWE)  affected  areas  setting  up  of  4,072  Towers approved for installation in Phase II
- (c)  For  North  East  Region  a  comprehensive  Telecom  Development  Plan  approved with 7,000 telecom towers to be installed for connectivity to over 8,600 villages and 3,200 KM of OFC network to be laid
- (d)    Submarine  Cable  Connectivity  work  has  started  connecting  mainland  to Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- (e)  Provisioning  of  Wi-Fi  Services  by  setting  up  25,000  hot  spots  in  BSNL  rural exchanges and 7,000 hot spots (e-Choupals) by Common Service Centres

## ROADMAP FOR COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR

The  National  Digital  Communications  Policy  (NDCP)  -2018  has  laid  down  a  roadmap  for ensuring  India's  transition  to  a  digitally  empowered  economy  and  society  by  fulfilling  the information  and  communications  needs  of  citizens  and  enterprises  through  establishment  of  a ubiquitous, resilient and affordable Digital Communications Infrastructure and Services. The key objectives of the policy, to be achieved by 2022 are:

- a) provisioning of Broadband for all;
- b) creating 4 Million additional jobs in the Digital Communications sector;
- c) enhancing the contribution of the Digital Communications sector to 8% of India's GDP from ~ 6% in 2017;
- d) propelling India to the Top 50 Nations in the ICT Development Index of ITU from 134 in 2017;
- e) enhancing India's contribution to Global Value Chains; and
- f) ensuring Digital Sovereignty.

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## ANNEXURE-II