Lok Sabha Question No. 635 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Mobile Connectivity in Remote Border Areas in the Northeast Region
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Dr. Indra Hang Subba

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 635 ANSWERED ON 23 RD  JULY, 2025

## MOBILE CONNECTIVITY IN REMOTE BORDER AREAS IN THE NORTHEAST REGION

## 635. DR. INDRA HANG SUBBA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

(a) the  details  and  the  number  of  border  villages/areas  in  Northeast  region  that  do  not  have mobile network connectivity;

(b) the details of the total budget allocated during the last five years for strengthening mobile network in remote border villages/areas of Northeast region;

(c) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  strengthen  mobile  networks along  Indo-Nepal border in Sikkim;

- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) to (e) Out  of  5,200  villages/habitations  in  the  border  areas  of  Northeast  region,  4,696 villages/habitations are covered with mobile connectivity. The State wise details of mobile coverage in border villages of Northeast region is at Annexure.

Mobile coverage for any uncovered inhabited villages is provided by the Telecom Service Providers  (TSPs)  based  on  the  techno-commercial  viability.  Government,  through  funding  from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), is implementing various schemes for expansion of telecom connectivity through installation of mobile towers in the rural, remote and border areas of the country. As on June 2025, 11 sites have been commissioned in Sikkim under DBN funded mobile schemes, providing mobile coverage to 13 villages, including border areas.

During  the  last  five  years  (FY  2020-21  to  FY  2024-25),  Rs.  1775.53  crore  have  been allocated/  disbursed  under  various  Schemes  of  Digital  Bharat  Nidhi  for  strengthening  mobile network in remote areas of North Eastern Region.

Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 635 to be answered on  23rd July, 2025 raised  by  Hon'ble Member of  Parliament regarding 'Mobile Connectivity in Remote Border Areas in the Northeast Region'

## State wise details of mobile coverage in border villages / habitations of Northeast region as on 31.05.2025:

| S. No.   | State             |   Total Villages/Habitations |   Villages / Habitations having mobile coverage |
|----------|-------------------|------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Arunachal Pradesh |                         1502 |                                            1165 |
| 2        | Assam             |                         1237 |                                            1237 |
| 3        | Manipur           |                          263 |                                             194 |
| 4        | Meghalaya         |                         1272 |                                            1238 |
| 5        | Mizoram           |                          378 |                                             365 |
| 6        | Nagaland          |                          135 |                                              96 |
| 7        | Sikkim            |                           68 |                                              68 |
| 8        | Tripura           |                          345 |                                             333 |
|          | Total             |                         5200 |                                            4696 |

*****