Lok Sabha Question No. 2508 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-16
Subject: Broadband Connections in Odisha
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Ramesh Chandra Majhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2508 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  MARCH, 2022

## BROADBAND CONNECTIONS IN ODISHA

## 2508. SHRI. RAMESH CHANDRA MAJHI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details and the number of broadband connections working in Odisha and the action being taken for providing Broadband facility to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) under phase-1;
- (b) the details of GPs in Odisha under BharatNet project have been provided with infrastructure to provide high-speed broadband connectivity;
- (c) the details of the plans to connect all villages with internet connectivity;
- (d) whether there is poor utilization of phase-1 of BharatNet project and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether Wi-Fi technology is used to provide the services in rural areas under the BharatNet project and if so, the details of the plans for the deployment of WiFi technology in rural areas in the State of Odisha; and
- (f) if not , the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) As  per  the  'Indian  Telecom  Services  Performance  Indicators'  published  by Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  on  10.01.2022,  there  are  total  2.09  Crore Broadband subscribers in Odisha Telecom Service Area.

BharatNet project is implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to  all  the  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  in  the  country,  including  Odisha.  Phase-II  in  Odisha  is implemented in State-led model through the State Government under which, 2786 GPs have been made Service Ready out of 2946 planned GPs. Further, 22 GPs have been made Service Ready on Satellite media out of 43 planned GPs. Under Phase-I, a total number of 3810 GPs were taken up for implementation through Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), out of which 3809 GPs have been made Service Ready. In total, 6617 GPs have been made Service Ready in Odisha, as on 28.02.2022. The scope of BharatNet has been recently extended up to all inhabited villages beyond GPs in the country, including Odisha.

Broadband/Internet  services  are  provided  in  a  phased  manner  by  the  Government  and Telecom Services Provider (TSPs) in the uncovered  remote villages of  the country,  including Odisha. The Government has the following schemes under Universal Service Obligation Fund for Odisha:

- (i) Under  the  scheme  for  providing  4G  mobile  coverage  in  7287  uncovered  villages  of Aspirational Districts, 3933 uncovered villages of Odisha are included.
- (ii) Under the scheme for providing 4G mobile coverage by installing 2542 towers in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas (Phase-II), 483 towers are included for Odisha.

(d) to (f) The infrastructure created under BharatNet project can be utilized for provisioning of broadband/internet services through Wi-Fi Hotspots, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections, leased lines, dark fibre, backhaul to mobile towers, etc.

The  work  of  providing  broadband  facility  (Wi-Fi  hotspots  and  Fibre  to  the  Home connections) in Phase-I GPs is implemented with funding from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). As on 28.02.2022, Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed under BharatNet Phase-I in 2511 GPs. Further, Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), the Executing Agency for BharatNet project, has signed 74 Agreements with Service Providers for providing broadband services across various States by utilizing BharatNet  Phase-I network in the country. Out of these Agreements, four are for providing services on pan-India basis (including in Odisha).

BharatNet  Phase-II  in  Odisha  is  implemented  by  the  State  Government,  which  is  also responsible for its utilization. However, no Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed under Phase-II so far.

********