Lok Sabha Question No. 932 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Interrupted Services of BSNL in Maharashtra
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Bhavana Gawali (Patil), Krupal Balaji Tumane

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 932 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  JULY, 2023

## INTERRUPTED SERVICES OF BSNL IN MAHARASHTRA

## †932.   SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI: SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  services  of  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited  (BSNL)  remains  interrupted  in Maharashtra particularly in rural areas and if so, the details thereof along with its causes;
- (b) whether the Government has received complaints from the State Government in this regard;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to address the said problem particularly in the rural areas;
- (e) whether the Government has fixed any accountability in this regard, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the instant measures taken by the Government to solve the said problem and to provide the high speed network in the rural areas?

## ANSWER

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

(a) No major interruption has occurred in the services of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Maharashtra circle including in its rural areas in recent past. However, there were some interruptions in its services due to power outage, damage of Optical Fibre Cables (OFC) / underground copper cables and due to various ongoing development works such as construction of roads, drainage works, water pipe lines etc., which were restored promptly.

(b) to (f) No such complaint  has  been  received from  the State  Government  of  Maharashtra. However, BSNL is offering high-speed broadband services in rural areas to its customers on Fibre to the Home (FTTH) network. The old copper cable connections are being migrated to high-speed FTTH network. As on 01/07/2023, 2.33 lakh FTTH connections are working in Maharashtra Circle out of which 66,772 connections are in rural areas.

Further,  BharatNet  project  is  being  implemented  with  the  support  of  Universal  Service Obligation Fund (USOF) in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) and inhabited villages in the country.  As on 30.06.2023, 6,43,450 km Optical Fibre  Cable  has  been  laid,  and  1,94,909  GPs  have  been  made  service  ready.   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  broadband  services,  such  as  Wi-Fi

Hotspots, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections, leased lines, dark fibre, backhaul to mobile towers, etc.  Using  BharatNet,  more  than  5.65  lakh  high  speed  Fiber  to  the  Home  (FTTH)  broadband connections have been provided by BSNL & others ISPs.

In addition to BharatNet, the Union Cabinet on 27.07.2022 approved a project for saturation of  4G  mobile  services  in  uncovered  villages  across  the  country,  which  is  being  executed  by BSNL.     The project will provide 4G mobile services in 24,680 uncovered villages in remote and difficult areas with a provision to include 20% additional villages.  In addition, 6,279 villages having only 2G/3G connectivity shall be upgraded to 4G.

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