Lok Sabha Question No. 2946 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-17
Subject: Disaster Resilience in Telecom Infrastructure
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Thiru Arun Nehru

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2946 ANSWERED ON 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## DISASTER RESILIENCE IN TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE

## 2946.   THIRU ARUN NEHRU:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) the  details  of  protocols  and  systems  implemented  for  disaster  risk  resilience  in  the telecommunications network nationwide, including mechanisms for emergency alerts and continuity of service during natural calamities;

(b) the  details  of  the  number  of  disaster  resilience  drills  and  capacity  building  exercises conducted during the last three years, region-wise; and

(c) the measures proposed to upgrade infrastructure and promote technological innovation for improved disaster management in the sector?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Nationwide disaster risk resilience in telecom networks is ensured through DoT's SOP-2020 for telecommunication services during disasters. As part of the SOP framework, LSAs conduct State Telecom  Disaster  Coordination  Committee  (STDCC)  meetings  with  TSPs,  State  Government authorities  and  NDRF  to  assess  preparedness  and  coordinate  necessary  actions.  Continuity  of services is supported through Priority Call Routing (PCR), Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR), and rapid restoration measures such as deployment of COWs/mobile BTS, emergency OFC repair teams, and activation of disaster control rooms. Timely public emergency alerts during natural calamities are disseminated through the CAP-based SACHET platform.

(b) Details of mock drills conducted by TSPs and STDCC meetings conducted by DoT LSAs during the last three years, are enclosed at Annexure-I .

(c) Telecom infrastructure is being strengthened through major initiatives under Digital Bharat Nidhi  (DBN)  and  other  programmes,  2,14,904  Gram  Panchayats  have  been  made  service-ready under  BharatNet,  with  the  Amended  BharatNet  Programme  underway  to  upgrade  networks  and extend connectivity to remaining GPs and non-GP villages, commissioning of 23,280 mobile towers under 4G Saturation and related projects, and enhancing island connectivity through submarine OFC links between Chennai-A&N (2,312 km) and Kochi-Lakshadweep (1,869 km), along with 225 km of  intra-island  OFC.  Technological  innovations  such  as  ICR,  priority  call  routing,  infrastructure sharing, and adoption of alternate technologies including satellite, along with close coordination with State  authorities  through  STDCC,  further  support  continuity  of  services  during  disasters.  These initiatives  collectively  aim  to  enhance  connectivity,  improve  network  resilience,  and  strengthen disaster management capability in the telecom sector.

Annexure-I

|   Sl. No. | Name of LSA                 |   No. of Mock drills conducted by TSPs during last 3 years |   No. of STDCC Meetings conducted by LSA during last 3 years |
|-----------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Andhra Pradesh              |                                                         95 |                                                            9 |
|         2 | Assam                       |                                                         38 |                                                            6 |
|         3 | Bihar                       |                                                        132 |                                                            3 |
|         4 | Delhi                       |                                                        148 |                                                            5 |
|         5 | Gujarat                     |                                                        154 |                                                            6 |
|         6 | Haryana                     |                                                         73 |                                                            6 |
|         7 | Himachal Pradesh            |                                                         53 |                                                            6 |
|         8 | Jammu &Kashmir              |                                                         39 |                                                            5 |
|         9 | Karnataka                   |                                                         34 |                                                            6 |
|        10 | Kerala                      |                                                         36 |                                                            4 |
|        11 | Madhya Pradesh              |                                                         60 |                                                           11 |
|        12 | Maharashtra                 |                                                          5 |                                                            6 |
|        13 | Mumbai                      |                                                         28 |                                                            6 |
|        14 | North East                  |                                                         40 |                                                            7 |
|        15 | Odisha                      |                                                         34 |                                                            5 |
|        16 | Punjab                      |                                                         99 |                                                            6 |
|        17 | Rajasthan                   |                                                        196 |                                                            6 |
|        18 | Tamil Nadu                  |                                                        198 |                                                            6 |
|        19 | UP(E)                       |                                                         78 |                                                            6 |
|        20 | UP(W)                       |                                                        311 |                                                            7 |
|        21 | West Bengal (incl. Kolkata) |                                                        138 |                                                            5 |

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