Lok Sabha Question No. 4390 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: High Speed Internet in Punjab
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri Malvinder Singh Kang

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4390 ANSWERED ON 20 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## HIGH SPEED INTERNET IN PUNJAB

## 4390.   SHRI MALVINDER SINGH KANG:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of agencies and service providers providing high speed internet connections in rural areas of the country especially in the State of Punjab;

(b) the details of the measures taken/being taken to accelerate the work of providing internet across the country;

(c) the  details  of  the  States  and  districts  where  there  is  very  little  or  no  access  to  internet facilities;

(d) the reasons for non-availability of high speed internet services in rural and backward areas of the country; and

- (e) the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard so far?

## ANSWER

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

(a) As of 31.07.2025, 237 licenses for National Area have been issued by the Department of Telecommunications, which are authorized to provide internet services across the country including in the state of Punjab.

A total of 295 Access  service and 1208 Internet service licenses have been issued by  the Department  of  Telecommunications,  which  are  authorized  to  provide  internet  services  in  the specified Telecom Circle area of the country. For, the state of Punjab, this license count is 10 for Access service and 15 for Internet service.

A total of 536 Access Service licenses and 1122 Internet Service licenses have been issued by the Department of Telecommunications, which are authorized to provide internet services in the specified Secondary Switching Area (SSA) of the country. For, the state of Punjab, this license count is 9 for Access service and 8 for Internet service.

(b) & (e) For providing high-capacity internet / broadband connectivity and mobile services in 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). 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 Jun2025; 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.

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, 3,53,105 PM Wani Wi-Fi Hotspots are installed across the country.

(c) & (d) As  per  RGI  (Registrar  General  of  India)  data,  out  of  the  total  751  District headquarters, all are having internet facility and out of 6,44,131 villages in the country, 6,26,055 villages are having internet facility (3G/4G) through mobile coverage network across the country as on 30.06.2025

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