Lok Sabha Question No. 2863 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: 5G Services by BSNL and MTNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2863 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## 5G SERVICES BY BSNL AND MTNL

## 2863.   SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the time by when 5G services by BSNL and MTNL will be available for use in the country;
- (b) the reasons for delay in launching 5G services by these companies while private companies have already started providing the service;

(c) whether  it  is  true  that  despite  availability  of  well  established  infrastructure  and  tower facilities, the Government owned telecom companies find it difficult to compete with private telecom companies in terms of providing better and advanced services;

- (d) if so, the steps taken by the Government to make these compete with private companies; and
- (e) the details of funds allocated for the purpose and utilised during the last five years, year-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) Government has taken various steps for revival of  BSNL and MTNL by providing a revival package in 2019 amounting to around Rs. 69,021 Crore that brought down the operating costs of BSNL/MTNL. The revival package of 2022 amounting to around Rs. 1.64 Lakh Crore was focused on infusing fresh capital, restructuring debt, Viability Gap funding for rural telephony etc. As a result, BSNL and MTNL have started earning operational profits from 2020-21. In addition, the Union Cabinet on 07.06.2023 approved the allotment of 4G/5G spectrum to BSNL with the total outlay of around Rs. 89,047 Crore through equity infusion.

In accordance with Atmanirbhar initiative of the Government, BSNL has placed purchase orders for 1 Lakh indigenously developed sites to rollout 4G services. The equipment is upgradable to 5G.

- (e) Details of fund allocation and utilization:

| Financial Year   | (Amount in ₹ crore)   | (Amount in ₹ crore)                                                         |
|------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Financial Year   | Fund Allotted         | Fund Utilized (Capital infusion, Viability Gap Fund, Ex-gratia and Pension) |
| 2019-20          | 4,646.00              | 4,452.86                                                                    |
| 2020-21          | 11,269.24             | 12,059.57*                                                                  |
| 2021-22          | 3,046.74              | 2,977.11                                                                    |
| 2022-23          | 54,244.11             | 45,568.79                                                                   |
| 2023-24          | 56,996.75             | (up-to 28.11.2023)                                                          |

*  Actual  expenditure  exceeded  allocation  on  account  of  claims  of  committed  liability  such  as pension.

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