Lok Sabha Question No. 642 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Initiatives in Telecom Sector
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Anil Firojiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 642 ANSWERED ON 23 RD  JULY, 2025

## INITIATIVES IN TELECOM SECTOR

## †642.   SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has implemented the BharatNet project at a fast pace to increase digital connectivity in the rural and remote areas of the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether priority is being accorded for expansion of 5G services especially to the developing sectors in the States and the districts, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether any new initiative has been taken to promote banking, insurance and e-commerce services in rural areas by the Postal Department, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  technical  improvements  to  make  the  spectrum allocation process transparent, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government has launched any scheme to promote domestic manufacturing and self-reliance in the Telecom Sector and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) BharatNet  project  is  being  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  provide  broadband connectivity  to  all  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  in the  country,  so  far  2,14,325  GPs  have  been  made service ready.
- (b) To enable roll out of 5G services, access spectrum in various spectrum bands for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) including 700 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz bands has been assigned to Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) through spectrum auctions conducted in the year 2022 and 2024. The successful bidders, who acquire spectrum through auctions, are permitted to deploy any IMT technology, including 5G.
- (c) The Postal Department has undertaken new initiatives such as the digitization of Post Office Savings Bank services, the transition of Postal Life Insurance to a paperless and online system, the establishment of Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras and collaboration with e-commerce entities in rural and urban areas to promote banking, insurance, and e-commerce in rural regions.
- (d) The  spectrum  auction  process  is  transparent  and  non-discriminatory,  beginning  with  a publicly  shared  Notice  Inviting  Application  (NIA)  detailing  rules,  timelines,  and  eligibility.  The auction itself is conducted online through a secure, Standardization Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) audited Electronic Auction System.

(e) The  Department  of  Telecommunications  (DoT)  has  undertaken  multiple  initiatives  to promote innovation and domestic manufacturing in the communications sector. Under the 'Digital Communications Innovation Square (DCIS)' scheme, DoT has supported 126 projects led by startups and MSMEs, with a total budget outlay of ₹108 crore, to foster the development of advanced technologies, including indigenous 5G.

Additionally, the  Production  Linked Incentive  (PLI) Scheme  for  telecom  and  networking products, notified on 24.02.2021 and effective from April'21, aims to boost domestic manufacturing with an outlay of ₹12,195 crore. A total of 42 companies-28 MSMEs and 14 non-MSMEs-have been  approved  as  beneficiaries  under  the  PLI  scheme.  As  of  31 st  May  2025,  PLI  beneficiary companies have collectively invested INR 4,305 crores, generating sales worth INR 85,391 crores which  includes  exports  of  INR  16,414  Cr.  This  investment  has  also  resulted  in  employment  for 28,067 individuals.

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