Lok Sabha Question No. 2890 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: BharatNet Scheme in Odisha
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Pratap Chandra Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS

## DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2890 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## BHARATNET SCHEME IN ODISHA

2890.   SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  current  penetration  percentage  of  mobile  internet  in  rural  and  urban areas in the State of Odisha;
- (b) the current status of the BharatNet Scheme and the number of beneficiaries;
- (c) the timeline by which Odisha is expected to reach 100% internet coverage; and
- (d) the status of the PM WANI Scheme and the expected number of beneficiaries in the State?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) As  per  the  Indian  Telecom  Service  Performance  Indicators  published  by  Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on 21.10.2021, the number of Internet Subscribers per 100  population  (including  mobile  internet  subscribers)  in  rural  and  urban  areas  of  Odisha Service Area at the end of June 2021 are as below:
- (b) & (c) BharatNet project is implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity  to  all  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  in  the  country.  On  30.06.2021,  the  scope  of BharatNet  was  extended  upto  all  inhabited  villages  beyond  GPs  in  the  country  including Odisha. The target date for completion of the project is August, 2023. As on 30.11.2021, a total number of 1,67,156 GPs are made Service Ready in the country.

| Service Area   | No. of Internet subscribers per 100 population   | No. of Internet subscribers per 100 population   | No. of Internet subscribers per 100 population   |
|----------------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
|                | Rural                                            | Urban                                            | Total                                            |
| Odisha         | 40.61                                            | 91.98                                            | 50.15                                            |

In  Odisha,  the  Phase-II  is  implemented  in  State-led  model  through  the  State Government under which, 2485 GPs have been made Service Ready out of 2,946 planned GPs, as on 30.11.2021. Further, 19 GPs have been made Service Ready out of 43 planned GPs  on  Satellite  media.  In  Phase-I,  a  total  number  of  3810  GPs  were  taken  up  for implementation through Powergrid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), out of which 3809 GPs have been made Service Ready. In total, 6,313 GPs have been made Service Ready in Odisha.

The infrastructure created under BharatNet project is a national asset, accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to the Service Providers, and the same can be  utilized to provide benefits of telecom services to the citizens.

- (d) Under  the  PM-WANI  framework,  Wi-Fi  Access  Points  are  set  up  by  small entrepreneurs  depending  on  the  market  demand  with  an  objective  to  earn  return  on  their investment. As on 08.12.2021, about 1,150 Access Points have been set up in Odisha.

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