Lok Sabha Question No. 5139 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: BharatNet Project in Odisha
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5139 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 ND  APRIL, 2025

## BHARATNET PROJECT IN ODISHA

## 5139.   SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

(a) the  progress made during the last three years and the current financial year in expanding 4G/5G mobile networks and BharatNet fiber connectivity in rural Odisha, particularly Kandhamal District;

(b) the future plans of the Government to enhance telecom infrastructure including the number of new towers and fiber-optic networks proposed under Digital India in the current financial year; and

(c) whether  the  Government  has  any  incentives  or  special  schemes  to  encourage  telecom companies to expand network coverage in tribal and remote areas and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The progress made during the last three years and the current financial year in expanding 4G/5G mobile networks and BharatNet fiber connectivity in Odisha, and Kandhamal District is as under:

| Item Name                                                             | As on      | Odisha   |   Kandhamal district |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|----------|----------------------|
| Number of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) of 4G/5G                   | 31.03.2021 | 47,468   |                  271 |
| Number of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) of 4G/5G                   | 31.03.2022 | 52,082   |                  359 |
| Number of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) of 4G/5G                   | 31.03.2023 | 57,935   |                  409 |
| Number of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) of 4G/5G                   | 31.03.2024 | 69,920   |                  660 |
| Number of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) of 4G/5G                   | 28.02.2025 | 74,283   |                  983 |
| Number of Service Ready Gram Panchayats (GPs) under BharatNet Project | 31.03.2021 | 5,818    |                  151 |
| Number of Service Ready Gram Panchayats (GPs) under BharatNet Project | 31.03.2022 | 6,672    |                  153 |
| Number of Service Ready Gram Panchayats (GPs) under BharatNet Project | 31.03.2023 | 6,782    |                  170 |
| Number of Service Ready Gram Panchayats (GPs) under BharatNet Project | 31.03.2024 | 6,785    |                  171 |
| Number of Service Ready Gram Panchayats (GPs) under BharatNet Project | 28.02.2025 | 6,785    |                  171 |

(b) & (c) Government has taken up 'BharatNet' and various mobile projects with funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) for expansion of telecom network coverage in uncovered remote and rural areas, including tribal areas of the country. As of Feb-2025; 2,14,323 GPs have been made service ready under BharatNet project and 17,341 mobile towers have been commissioned in the country. Further, the Government has approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) to cover all GPs in  the  country  on  ring  network,  up-gradation  of  existing  network  of  BharatNet  Phase-I  and Phase-II, and connectivity to remaining non-GP villages on demand basis.

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