Lok Sabha Question No. 4567 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: 4G Broadband in North Eastern Region
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri Joyanta Basumatary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4567 ANSWERED ON 20 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## 4G BROADBAND IN NORTH EASTERN REGION

## 4567.   SHRI JOYANTA BASUMATARY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) the  number  of  villages  in  Northeast  India  that  remain  unconnected  by  4G  or  broadband services as of June 2025, State-wise;

(b) whether the DoNER Ministry has collaborated with Department of Telecommunications or Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) to address this gap;

(c) the  implementation  status  of  projects  sanctioned  under  the  Comprehensive  Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for the Northeast; and

(d) the steps taken to ensure digital services for education healthcare and e-governance in remote and border districts?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) As of June 2025, out of 45,934 villages in the North Eastern Region (as per data of Registrar General of India), 42,093 villages are covered with mobile connectivity and out of these, 40,663 villages have 4G mobile connectivity. The State-wise mobile coverage status in North Eastern Region (NER) is at Annexure .

Mobile coverage for any uncovered inhabited villages is provided by the Telecom Service Providers  (TSPs)  based  on  the  techno-commercial  viability.  Government,  through  funding  from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), is implementing various projects/schemes for expansion of telecom connectivity  through  installation  of  mobile  towers  in  the  rural,  remote  and  border  areas  of  the country, including the NER.

The DBN projects under Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for the NER are for providing mobile connectivity to uncovered villages and areas along National Highways with the objective of extending mobile network access to underserved population in the region. As on June 2025, 2,485 mobile towers have been commissioned under DBN schemes in NER, providing mobile connectivity to 3,389 villages/locations.

BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) for broadband services, such as Wi-Fi Hotspots, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections  etc.  Further,  the  Union  Cabinet  has  approved  Amended  BharatNet  Program  for provisioning of connectivity to all GPs in the country in ring topology including upgrading existing network and connectivity to about 3.8 Lakh non-GP villages on demand basis. As of June 2025, 6,355 GPs have been made service ready and 12,283 FTTH connections have been provided under BharatNet project in NER.

The  telecom  connectivity  provided  under  DBN  projects  has  led  to  equitable  access  to communications  and  digital  services  for  education,  healthcare,  and  e-governance  in  remote  and border districts.

Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4567 to be answered on 20th August, 2025 raised by Hon'ble Member of Parliament regarding '4G Broadband in North Eastern Region'

State-wise mobile coverage status in North Eastern Region (NER)

| State             | Total no. of villages (as per RGI data)   | No. of Villages having mobile connectivity   | No. of villages having 4G coverage   |
|-------------------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Arunachal Pradesh | 5993                                      | 4258                                         | 3094                                 |
| Assam             | 26429                                     | 26007                                        | 25934                                |
| Manipur           | 2612                                      | 2219                                         | 2132                                 |
| Meghalaya         | 7100                                      | 6424                                         | 6394                                 |
| Mizoram           | 867                                       | 755                                          | 749                                  |
| Nagaland          | 1535                                      | 1235                                         | 1213                                 |
| Sikkim            | 461                                       | 453                                          | 442                                  |
| Tripura           | 937                                       | 742                                          | 705                                  |
| Total             | 45,934                                    | 42,093                                       | 40,663                               |

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