Lok Sabha Question No. 4594 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Wi-Fi Towers in Border Areas
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4594 ANSWERED ON 20 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## WI-FI TOWERS IN BORDER AREAS

## †4594.  SHRI SUKHJINDER SINGH RANDHAWA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  install  Government  Wi-Fi  towers  in  the  adjoining districts of Punjab named  Gurdaspur and Pathankot to make border area digital in fact;

- (b) if so, the details of work plan prepared by the Government in this regard;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor; and

(d) the details of the steps being proposed to be taken by the Government to make villages digital and tech savvy?

## ANSWER

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

(a) As per Registrar General India data, out of the total 1,692 villages in Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts  of  Punjab  State,  1,675  villages  have  internet  facility  (3G/4G  mobile  coverage)  as  on 30.06.2025.

The  Union  Cabinet  has  also  approved  the  proposal  of  Department  of  Telecom  (DoT)  to proliferate Broadband through Public Wi-Fi networks under the framework of Prime Minister's WiFi Access Network Interface (PMWANI). Currently, the count of PM Wani hotspots in the district of Gurdaspur is 287 and is 77 in the district of Pathankot.

BharatNet project (earlier known as National Optical Fiber Network) being funded by DBN is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs)  in  the  country  including Gurdaspur  and  Pathankot  adjoining  districts  of  Punjab.  This infrastructure  is  leased  to  TSPs/ISPs  for  provision  of  internet  connectivity  in  GPs/rural  areas including post offices/other Government institutions/ villages, schools, and private areas.

(b) to (d) For providing high bandwidth capacity internet/broadband connectivity and mobile services to remote & rural villages and islands in the country that currently lack coverage, a number of steps & projects have been taken up with funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) [erstwhile Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)], Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Some of the projects have already been completed and many are under implementation. Details of the major projects are as follows:

- i. BharatNet  project  is  being  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  provide  broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages in the country. 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 Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections, leased lines, dark fibre, backhaul to mobile towers, etc. On 04.08.2023, the Union Cabinet has approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) under  Design,  Built,  Operate  and  Maintain  (DBOM)  model,  for  up-gradation  of  existing network of BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II, creation of network in balance GPs, Operation and Maintenance for 10 years and utilization. The connectivity to remaining non-GP villages is proposed to be provided on demand basis from their respective GPs. BSNL will have target of providing 1.50 crore FTTH connections to households in next five years. BSNL has been nominated as the Project Management Agency. As of Jun-2025; 13,01,193 FTTH connections have  been  provided  by  BSNL  &  other  service  providers  under  BharatNet  project  in  the country.
- ii. For provision of high-speed internet/data and Mobile Services in uncovered remote & rural areas of the country, various targeted schemes/projects have been implemented. Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for mobile connectivity in the North Eastern  Region,  Comprehensive  Telecom  Development  Plan  for  Islands  (Andaman  & Nicobar  and  Lakshadweep  Islands),  Scheme  for  providing  mobile  services  in  Left  Wing Extremism  (LWE) affected  areas,  Schemes  for providing  mobile  services  in Aspirational Districts, Scheme for providing mobile services in the border villages and other priority areas, 4G Saturation scheme to provide mobile coverage in all uncovered villages etc.. The project for saturation of 4G mobile services for providing 4G mobile services in uncovered villages in remote and difficult areas of the country is also under implementation at a total cost of Rs. 26,316 Cr. Till Jun-2025, 21,748 mobile towers have been commissioned in the country under various Government funded mobile projects.
- iii. Commissioning  of  submarine  optical  fibre  cable  on  10.08.2020  between  Chennai  and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (2312 Km) for providing high speed internet/data connectivity to Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Commissioning of Submarine OFC connectivity between Mainland (Kochi) and Lakshadweep Islands (1869 km) (Total 11 Islands; Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Agatti,  Amini,  Androth,  Minicoy,  Bangaram,  Bitra,  Chetlat,  Kiltan  and  Kadmath)  on 03.01.2024. Creation of 225Km OFC network in Lakshadweep Islands for provision of FTTH & other services. These optical fibre cable projects have facilitated faster roll out of fixed line broadband/internet services, mobile services (4G/5G) and other high-speed data services in the Islands.

Government of India has launched a redesigned and expanded Scheme for the year 2022-23 named as 'Scheme for Special Assistance to states for Capital Investment 2022-23'. A total amount of  Rs  3000  crores  was  earmarked  for  Part-V  (Optical  Fiber  Cable)  of  the  Scheme  for  Special Assistance to states for  Capital  Investment  2022-23.  Funds can be used to extend BharatNet to Villages  from  the  GPs  covered as  at  present  for Last  Mile  Connectivity  (LMC) on  the  OFC  to Government  Institutions (like  School,  Health  Centre, Anganwadi, Police  Station,  Krishi  Vikash Kendra,  Post  Office,  ration  Shop  etc.),  Private  Institutions  and  Households  from  Bharat  Net network.

Also, 5G services have also been rolled out in all States/ UTs across the country and as on 30.06.2025, 4.86 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) have been installed by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) across the country.

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