Lok Sabha Question No. 1608 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Mobile Users and 5G Auctions
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Pinaki Misra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1608 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2021

## MOBILE USERS AND 5G AUCTIONS

## 1608.   SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of mobile users is rural and urban areas of the country, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the total number of 4G service users in rural and urban areas of the country, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any survey on urgency to start 5G telecom services in the country and if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- (d) whether the Government plans to auctions 5G spectrum in 2021 and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  Chinese  companies,  including  Huawei,  will  be  allowed  to  participate  in  the  said auctions and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  plans  to  administratively  allocate  5G  spectrum  to  Bharat  Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

- (a) & (b) The service area wise number of mobile telephone connections, which include 2G, 3G and 4G,  in rural and urban areas of the country as on 31.12.2020 are given in Annexure .
- (c) No Sir.
- (d) The Government will conduct auction of right to use spectrum in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800  MHz,  2100  MHz,  2300  MHz  and  2500  MHz  bands  in  March,  2021.  Notice  Inviting Applications  (NIA)  for  spectrum  auction  was  issued  on  06.01.2021.  As  per  the  extant  policy, auctioned spectrum can be used for deployment of any technology .

(e)    Any  licensee  that  holds  a  UASL  (Unified  Access  Service  License)  /  CMTS  (Cellular  Mobile Telephone  Services)  /  UL  (Unified  License)  with  authorization  for  Access  Services  for  that  LSA (License Service Area); or any licensee that fulfils the eligibility for obtaining a Unified License with authorization for Access Services and  gives an  undertaking to obtain a  Unified  License for  access service authorization; or any entity that gives an undertaking to obtain a Unified License for access service authorization through a New Entrant Nominee as per the DoT guidelines/license conditions, can bid for the Spectrum in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz & 2500 MHz Bands subject to other provisions of the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for auction. A Unified License can only be awarded to an Indian Company. Hence, any foreign applicants will need to  form  or  acquire  an  Indian  company  to  obtain  a  Unified  License.  However,  they  are  allowed  to participate in the auctions directly and apply for a Unified License subsequently through an Indian company, where they hold equity stake, with a  maximum foreign equity up to 100% as per extant guidelines.

(f) The Government approved the revival plan for BSNL and MTNL on 23.10.2019. The revival plan inter-alia, includes the measures to administratively allot spectrum to BSNL/MTNL for providing 4G services  and  funding  of  spectrum  cost  through  capital  infusion  by  the  Government  and  GST  to  be paid through budgetary allocation by GoI. The revival plan also includes measures for administrative allotment of spectrum to BSNL/MTNL for providing 5G services, spectrum for maintaining current operations and future services on the same principle as for allotment of spectrum for 4G services.

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred  Question no. 1608 to be answered on 10 th  February 2021 regarding Mobile Users and 5G Auctions.

Service area wise total mobile telephone connections in rural and urban areas as on 31.12.2020 is as follows:

(figures in million)

|        |                      | Total mobile telephone connections   | Total mobile telephone connections   | Total mobile telephone connections   |
|--------|----------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Sr.No. | Service Area         | Rural                                | Urban                                | Total                                |
| 1      | Andhra Pradesh       | 44.28                                | 43.33                                | 87.62                                |
| 2      | Assam                | 15.18                                | 8.87                                 | 24.05                                |
| 3      | Bihar                | 55.58                                | 29.32                                | 84.89                                |
| 4      | Gujarat              | 27.23                                | 40.56                                | 67.78                                |
| 5      | Haryana              | 12.02                                | 15.12                                | 27.13                                |
| 6      | Himachal Pradesh     | 7.47                                 | 3.58                                 | 11.05                                |
| 7      | Jammu &Kashmir       | 5.57                                 | 6.24                                 | 11.80                                |
| 8      | Karnataka            | 27.48                                | 39.75                                | 67.23                                |
| 9      | Kerala               | 20.53                                | 24.14                                | 44.68                                |
| 10     | Madhya Pradesh       | 34.39                                | 41.14                                | 75.53                                |
| 11     | Maharashtra          | 43.37                                | 49.90                                | 93.27                                |
| 12     | North East           | 6.32                                 | 5.90                                 | 12.21                                |
| 13     | Odisha               | 21.88                                | 11.64                                | 33.51                                |
| 14     | Punjab               | 13.07                                | 24.66                                | 37.73                                |
| 15     | Rajasthan            | 35.53                                | 29.64                                | 65.16                                |
| 16     | Tamil Nadu           | 23.66                                | 56.71                                | 80.37                                |
| 17     | Uttar Pradesh (East) | 61.31                                | 37.28                                | 98.59                                |
| 18     | Uttar Pradesh (West) | 29.66                                | 32.77                                | 62.43                                |
| 19     | West Bengal          | 33.98                                | 20.88                                | 54.86                                |
| 20     | Kolkata              | 1.85                                 | 24.37                                | 26.21                                |
| 21     | Delhi                | 2.20                                 | 50.39                                | 52.59                                |
| 22     | Mumbai               | 1.29                                 | 33.70                                | 34.99                                |
|        | All- India           | 523.83                               | 629.88                               | 1153.71                              |

Source: DoT

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