Lok Sabha Question No. 44 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Base Transceiver Stations
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri Selvam G, Shri C N Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 44 ANSWERED ON 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2025

## BASE TRANSCEIVER STATIONS

## *44. SHRI C N ANNADURAI: SHRI SELVAM G:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  Telecom  Service  Providers  (TSPs)  have  installed 35,655 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) in Tamil Nadu and launched 5G services across all districts and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the district-wise details of 5G  BTSs  installed, particularly in  Tiruvannamalai and Kanchipuram districts along with the number of villages covered under 5G network in each of these districts;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to extend additional financial or technical assistance to improve 5G connectivity and digital infrastructure in rural and underserved areas of these districts;
- (d) the details of 5G Use Case Labs and Test Beds established in Tamil Nadu; and
- (e) whether the Government has any plans to establish such innovation and research facilities in or near the Tiruvannamalai and Kanchipuram districts to promote start-ups and digital inclusion and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.44 FOR 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2025 REGARDING 'BASE TRANSCEIVER STATIONS.'

(a) As  on  31.10.2025,  Telecom  Service  Providers  (TSPs)  have  installed  37,187  5G  Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) in Tamil Nadu. Further, 5G services have been launched by Telecom Service Providers in all districts of Tamil Nadu.

(b) As per information provided by TSPs, the district-wise count of 5G BTSs in Tamil Nadu, including Tiruvannamalai and Kanchipuram districts, is placed at Annexure-I. Further 5G BTSs have been installed in 224 and 231 villages in Tiruvannamalai and Kanchipuram districts respectively.

(c) Yes, the Government has taken several technical and financial initiatives to improve 5G connectivity  and  digital  communication  infrastructure  across  the  country,  including  rural  and underserved areas in Tiruvannamalai and Kanchipuram districts. These initiatives, inter-alia , include the following:

- i. Auction of spectrum for 5G mobile services in 2022.
- ii. Financial reforms to rationalize Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), Bank Guarantees (BGs) and interest rates.
- iii. Removal of Spectrum Usage Charges for spectrum acquired in auction of 2022 and thereafter.
- iv. Simplification of procedure for SACFA (Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocations) clearance.
- v. Launch of  GatiShakti  Sanchar  portal  and  RoW(Right  of  Way)  Rules  to  streamline  RoW permissions and clearance of installation of telecom infrastructure.
- vi. Time-bound  permission  for  use  of  street  furniture  for  installation  of  small  cells  and telecommunication line.
- vii. 4G Saturation scheme to provide 4G mobile coverage in uncovered villages.

(d) & (e) To promote start-ups and digital inclusion, one 5G Test Bed has been established at IIT  Madras and seven 5G Use Case Labs have been established at different Higher Educational Institutions in  Tamil  Nadu.  These  seven  institutions  are National Institute  of  Technology Tiruchirappalli,  Vellore  Institute  of  Technology,  College  of  Engineering  Guindy  (Chennai), SASTRA  Deemed  University  (Thanjavur),  Sri  Sivasubramaniya  Nadar  College  of  Engineering (Chennai), Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (Chennai), and SRM Institute of Science  and  Technology  (Chengalpattu  district).  It  is  to  mention  that  Chennai,  Vellore  and Chengalpattu districts are near or adjacent to Tiruvannamalai and Kanchipuram districts.

Annexure to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 44 to be answered on 03.12.2025.

## District-wise count of 5G BTSs in Tamil Nadu:

| Sr. No.   | Districts       | Count of 5G BTSs   |
|-----------|-----------------|--------------------|
| 1         | Ariyalur        | 127                |
| 2         | Chengalpattu    | 2,251              |
| 3         | Chennai         | 4,679              |
| 4         | Coimbatore      | 3,169              |
| 5         | Cuddalore       | 984                |
| 6         | Dharmapuri      | 605                |
| 7         | Dindigul        | 827                |
| 8         | Erode           | 1,279              |
| 9         | Kallakurichi    | 319                |
| 10        | Kanchipuram     | 904                |
| 11        | Kanniyakumari   | 786                |
| 12        | Karur           | 464                |
| 13        | Krishnagiri     | 1,195              |
| 14        | Madurai         | 1,563              |
| 15        | Mayiladuthurai  | 108                |
| 16        | Nagapattinam    | 334                |
| 17        | Namakkal        | 788                |
| 18        | Perambalur      | 170                |
| 19        | Pudukkottai     | 447                |
| 20        | Ramanathapuram  | 443                |
| 21        | Ranipet         | 492                |
| 22        | Salem           | 1,863              |
| 23        | Sivaganga       | 432                |
| 24        | Tenkasi         | 457                |
| 25        | Thanjavur       | 874                |
| 26        | The Nilgiris    | 282                |
| 27        | Theni           | 481                |
| 28        | Thiruvallur     | 2,475              |
| 29        | Thiruvarur      | 341                |
| 30        | Thoothukkudi    | 735                |
| 31        | Tiruchirappalli | 1,241              |
| 32        | Tirunelveli     | 830                |
| 33        | Tirupathur      | 523                |
| 34        | Tiruppur        | 1,787              |
| 35        | Tiruvannamalai  | 675                |
| 36        | Vellore         | 873                |
| 37        | Viluppuram      | 601                |
| 38        | Virudhunagar    | 783                |
|           | Total           | 37,187             |

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## Annexure-I