Lok Sabha Question No. 2315 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Revival of BSNL/MTNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Dhal Singh Bisen

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2315 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 TH  MARCH, 2023

## REVIVAL OF BSNL/MTNL

## †2315. DR. DHAL SINGH BISEN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any steps are being taken by the Government for revival of BSNL/MTNL and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  make  MTNL  and  BSNL  ready  for  the  use  of  5G Spectrum and if so, the time by which the same is likely to be done;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to launch 5G services in the State of Madhya Pradesh as well and if so, the districts where the said services are likely to be started; and

(d) whether  3G  services  of  BSNL  are  functional  in  rural  areas  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof, district-wise and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) The Union Cabinet on 23.10.2019 approved the revival of BSNL  and MTNL. Further on 27.07.2022, the Union Cabinet approved revival package for BSNL amounting to Rs. 1.64 lakhs crores. The revival measures focus on infusing fresh capital for upgrading BSNL services, allocating spectrum, de-stressing its balance sheet, augmenting its fibre network by merging Bharat Broadband Nigam Limited (BBNL) with BSNL.

- (b) The Government has reserved spectrum for providing 5G services by BSNL while conducting the Spectrum auction in July 2022. 5G services of BSNL will be started after roll out of BSNL 4G services.

(c) Telecom Service Providers have installed 5G BTSs for providing 5G services  in 12 Districts of  Madhya Pradesh i.e. Bhopal, Chhindwara, Dewas, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Raisen, Ratlam, Rewa, Sagar, Satna and Ujjain.

(d) BSNL  is  providing  3G  services  since  February  2009  covering  rural  areas  also.    List  of Districts of Madhya Pradesh where 3G services have been started are attached as Annexure-A .

## Annexure-A

Districts of Madhya Pradesh where 3G services are functional in Rural Areas.

| SL No.   | Name of District   | Nos. of villages covered with BSNL 3G Mobile Services   |
|----------|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Alirajpur          | 3                                                       |
| 2        | Anuppur            | 5                                                       |
| 3        | Ashoknagar         | 4                                                       |
| 4        | Balaghat           | 9                                                       |
| 5        | Barwani            | 3                                                       |
| 6        | Betul              | 28                                                      |
| 7        | Bhind              | 0                                                       |
| 8        | Bhopal             | 15                                                      |
| 9        | Burhanpur          | 10                                                      |
| 10       | Chhatarpur         | 2                                                       |
| 11       | Chhindwara         | 36                                                      |
| 12       | Damoh              | 10                                                      |
| 13       | Dewas              | 12                                                      |
| 14       | Dhar               | 12                                                      |
| 15       | Dindori            | 2                                                       |
| 16       | Guna               | 9                                                       |
| 17       | Gwalior            | 1                                                       |
| 18       | Harda              | 6                                                       |
| 19       | Hoshangabad        | 12                                                      |
| 20       | Indore             | 18                                                      |
| 21       | Jabalpur           | 10                                                      |
| 22       | Jhabua             | 3                                                       |
| 23       | Katni              | 6                                                       |
| 24       | Khandwa            | 12                                                      |
| 25       | Khargone           | 7                                                       |
| 26       | Mandla             | 7                                                       |
| 27       | Mandsaur           | 9                                                       |
| 28       | Morena             | 3                                                       |
| 29       | Narsimhapur        | 11                                                      |
| 30       | Neemuch            | 12                                                      |
| 31       | Panna              | 2                                                       |
| 32       | Raisen             | 6                                                       |
| 33       | Rajgarh            | 2                                                       |
| 34       | Ratlam             | 7                                                       |
| 35       | Rewa               | 3                                                       |
| 36       | Sagar              | 9                                                       |
| 37       | Satna              | 6                                                       |
| 38       | Sehore             | 11                                                      |
| 39       | Seoni              | 13                                                      |
| 40       | Shahdol            | 4                                                       |
| 41       | Shajapur           | 8                                                       |
| 42       | Sheopur            | 3                                                       |
| 43       | Sidhi              | 10                                                      |
| 44       | Singrauli          | 10                                                      |
| 45       | Ujjain             | 11                                                      |
| 46 47    | Umaria Vidisha     | 5 8                                                     |
|          | Total              | 395                                                     |

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