Lok Sabha Question No. 2558 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Mobile Towers in Tribal And Hilly Areas
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Pramila Bisoyi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2558 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  AUGUST, 2021

## MOBILE TOWERS IN TRIBAL AND HILLY AREAS

## 2558. SHRIMATI PRAMILA BISOYI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to expedite the setting up of mobile towers in tribal and hilly areas of the country including Odisha to address the problem of poor connectivity;
- (b) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the  reach  and  quality  of  broadband services of BSNL in rural areas in view of huge increase in internet consumption on account of online education during the pandemic years;
- (c) whether the Government is planning to provide  BSNL broadband connections in rural areas  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  such connections in rural areas of Odisha; and
- (d) the time by when all the rural areas will be connected with broadband services of BSNL?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The Government through Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) provides Mobile coverage in rural areas including tribal and hilly areas in the country in a phased manner. Government has approved various schemes/projects through Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) support for mobile and broadband services in rural and remote areas across the country. The details of the schemes are attached as Annexure-I.
- (b) to (d) The Government has approved the revival plan for BSNL on 23.10.2019, which, inter-alia, includes administrative allotment of spectrum for providing 4G services with funding through  budgetary  allocation.  With  the  launch  of  4G  services  on  Pan-India  basis,  reach  and quality of BSNL wireless broadband services will expand in the country including in rural areas.

## DETAILS OF SCHEMES/PROJECTS TO PROVIDE/FACILITATE THE MOBILE AND BROADBAND SERVICES IN RURAL AND REMOTE AREAS INCLUDING TRIBAL AND HILLY AREAS IN THE COUNTRY:

- (i) Under Left Wing Extremism Phase-I project, provision of mobile connectivity at 2355 towers  locations  in  the  States  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  Bihar,  Chhattisgarh,  Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal has been implemented by Government of India.
- (ii) Under LWE Phase-II project, installation of 2542 mobile towers has been approved for providing mobile services across 10 states including 483 mobile towers in 9 districts of Odisha which are mainly hilly districts and out of these 9 districts, 6 are tribal districts also.   The  9  districts  are  Bargarh,  Baudh,  Kalahandi,  Kandhmal,  Koraput,  Malkangiri, Nabrangpur, Nuapada and Rayagada. The Request for Proposal (RFP) was floated on 1103-2021 for 2542 towers and the bids are under evaluation.
- (iii) Provision  of  mobile  connectivity  in  354  villages  of  uncovered  border  areas  including J&K, Ladakh has also been approved and the agreement has been signed on 28-04-2020. The roll out period of this scheme is up to Oct, 2021.
- (iv) Aspirational  District  Scheme  for  provisioning  of  4G  based  Mobile  service  in  502 uncovered villages in Aspirational Districts of four states Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh & Rajasthan has been approved on 20-12-2019 and the work has been awarded.
- (v) Two  schemes  funded  from  USOF  have  been  approved  for  provision  of  4G  mobile services in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh & two districts of Assam (KarbiAnglong& Dima Hasao) as mentioned below:
-  4G Mobile Services in Uncovered Villages of Meghalaya and seamless coverage along National Highway: The work has been awarded for 1,164 uncovered villages and  11  sites  along  National  Highways  by  installation  of  889  in  Meghalaya  on 04.09.2020 for provisioning of 4G mobile services. At present, the Project is under implementation  and  is  targeted  to  be  completed  in  18  months  since  the  award  of work.
-  4G Mobile Services in Uncovered Villages of Arunachal Pradesh and 2 Districts of Assam: This scheme has been approved for provision of 4G mobile services in 2374 uncovered villages by installation of 1511 towers in Arunachal Pradesh and two Districts of Assam (Karbi Anglong & Dima Hasao). The tender has been floated and opened on 02.06.2021 and the same is under evaluation for selection of Implementing Agency.
- (vi) Mobile  Services  in  Uncovered  Villages  in  Assam,  Manipur,  Mizoram,  Nagaland, Tripura,  Sikkim,  and  Arunachal  Pradesh  (National  Highways  only)  of  NER  and seamless coverage along National Highway: Under this scheme, Mobile connectivity is to be provided by setting up 2004 towers in the uncovered villages and along National Highways  of  Assam,  Manipur,  Mizoram,  Nagaland,  Tripura,  Sikkim,  and  Arunachal Pradesh  (National  Highways  only)  of  North-East  region.  The  project  is  already  under implementation and 1358 sites are already providing services, covering 1246 villages and 283 National Highways sites.

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