Lok Sabha Question No. 346 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Telecom Services in Rural Areas
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Haribhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 346 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  JULY, 2024

## TELECOM SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS

## 346 SHRI HARIBHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has  been  successful  in  its  attempt  to  provide  access  to  telecom services  in  a  non-discriminatory  manner  to  people  in  rural  and  remote  areas  at  affordable  and reasonable prices, thereby bridging the rural-urban digital divide;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the measures undertaken by the Government to incentivize telecom service providers for the expansion  of  telecommunications  and  broadband  services  in  commercially  non-viable  rural  and remote areas; and

(d) whether the majority of rural and urban areas of Gujarat have been provided with access utility to telecom services and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) Government has undertaken various schemes to provide access to telecom services in a non-discriminatory manner to people in rural and remote areas at affordable and reasonable prices, thereby  bridging  the  rural-urban  digital  divide.  Various  measures  have  also  been  undertaken  to incentivize  telecom  service  providers  for  the  expansion  of  telecommunications  and  broadband services in commercially non-viable rural and remote areas. The details are as given below:-

- (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 can be utilized to provide broadband services, such as Wi-Fi Hotspots, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) etc.  As of 30.06.2024; 81% GPs have been made service ready under BharatNet project in the country . On 04.08.2023,  the  Union  Cabinet  has  approved  the  Amended  BharatNet  Program (ABP),  for  providing  upgraded  infrastructure  and  Broad  Band  connectivity  to 2,64,554 GPs.
- (ii) To improve connectivity in islands, submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) of 2,313 Km from Chennai to Port Blair has been commissioned in August 2020. A Submarine OFC project for extending connectivity between Mainland (Kochi) and Lakshadweep islands has also been commissioned in Jan, 2024.
- (iii) Mobile  coverage  for  inhabited  uncovered  villages  is  provided  by  the  Telecom Service  Providers  (TSPs)  in  a  phased  manner  based  on  their  techno-commercial viability.  Government,  through  Viability  Gape  Funding  to  TSPs  from  Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), is implementing various schemes for providing mobile network coverage to remote and uncovered villages of the country.

(d) Under the BharatNet project, out of 14,320 GPs, 14,316 GPs have been made service ready in Gujarat. Out of 18,425 villages in Gujarat, 17,928 villages (97.3%) have been covered by mobile services. Further, under 4G Saturation Project of USOF, Government has planned for saturation of 4G mobile services in uncovered villages across the country, including Gujarat.

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