Lok Sabha Question No. 1787 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-30
Subject: Digital Connectivity in North-Eastern Region
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Dr. Ricky Andrew J Syngkon

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1787 ANSWERED ON 30 TH  JULY, 2025

## DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY IN NORTH-EASTERN REGION

## 1787.   DR. RICKY ANDREW J SYNGKON:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

(a) the  current  status  of  digital  connectivity in  North-Eastern States including  the  number of villages with access to high-speed internet;

- (b) the progress made under the Bharat-Net project in the region; and

(c) the  measures being taken to address connectivity challenges in remote and hilly areas of North-East India?

## ANSWER

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

(a) As on 31.05.2025, out of 45,934 villages (villages data as per Registrar General of India, as of Nov 2019) in North-Eastern Region, 41,933 villages are having mobile connectivity (2G/3G/4G), out of which 40,399 are having 4G mobile connectivity. The State-wise coverage status is given in Annexure-I :

(b) BharatNet  project  is  being  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  provide  broadband connectivity such as Wi-Fi Hotspots, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections etc. to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages on demand basis. As of June, 2025, 6355 Gram Panchayats (GPs) have been made service ready under BharatNet project in North-Eastern Region.

(c) The Government is implementing various schemes under Digital Bharat Nidhi for expansion of internet facilities through installation of 4G mobile towers in the rural and remote areas of the country under 4G saturation project. In addition, Government is providing support of Rs.3.25 Cr (excluding taxes) to BSNL for hiring of 10 Gbps International Bandwidth for Internet Connectivity to ensure availability of high quality and high-speed internet access to the States of North Eastern Region of the country.

## Annexure-I referred to in Part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1787 for answer on 30.07.2025

| Mobile coverage status as on 31.05.2025   | Mobile coverage status as on 31.05.2025   | Mobile coverage status as on 31.05.2025                | Mobile coverage status as on 31.05.2025   | Mobile coverage status as on 31.05.2025   |
|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| S.no.                                     | State/UT                                  | Total no. of villages (as per RGI data as of Nov'2019) | No. of villages having Mobile coverage    | No. of villages having 4G coverage        |
| 1.                                        | Arunachal Pradesh                         | 5993                                                   | 4229                                      | 3065                                      |
| 2.                                        | Assam                                     | 26429                                                  | 26007                                     | 25934                                     |
| 3.                                        | Manipur                                   | 2612                                                   | 2216                                      | 2124                                      |
| 4.                                        | Meghalaya                                 | 7100                                                   | 6347                                      | 6320                                      |
| 5.                                        | Mizoram                                   | 867                                                    | 740                                       | 678                                       |
| 6.                                        | Nagaland                                  | 1535                                                   | 1234                                      | 1211                                      |
| 7.                                        | Sikkim                                    | 461                                                    | 453                                       | 442                                       |
| 8.                                        | Tripura                                   | 937                                                    | 707                                       | 625                                       |
| Total                                     | Total                                     | 45934                                                  | 41933                                     | 40399                                     |

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