Lok Sabha Question No. 1087 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-02
Subject: Wi-Fi in Rural Areas
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1087 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  MARCH,  2016

## WI-FI IN RURAL AREAS

†1087. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

Will  the  Minister  of  COMMUNICATIONS  AND  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  any  scheme  to  provide  complete convergence of Wi-Fi facilities in the rural areas of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any data is available with the Government regarding villages having total Wi-Fi facilities;
- (d) if so, whether the Government has given any financial cooperation in this regard; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the details regarding the cities, public places and religious places having total Wi-Fi facilities?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) to (e) Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is implementing National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) project to connect all Gram Panchayats (approx.2.5 lakh) in the country through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) utilizing existing fibers of public sector Undertakings (PSUs) viz. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) and Rail Tel for providing broadband connectivity. In order to review the implementation of NOFN Project, a Committee was constituted on 14 th January, 2015.  The Committee submitted its report on 31 st March, 2015.  One of the recommendations of the Committee is that at least one hour of free Wi-Fi usage per day for each resident of the GP should be provided by the identified community Wi-Fi service provider.

In  addition,  BSNL has provided Wi-Fi services at over 300 locations with more than  860  Hotspots  all  over  India  including  the  rural  areas.  The  details  of  number  of Hotspots installed by BSNL in villages, cities/public/religious places are at Annexure. BSNL would be providing free Wi-Fi services, for first 15 minutes once in a month per user.  BSNL is in the process of setting up Wi-Fi Hotspots in the country on revenue share  model  at  selected  locations  including  rural  areas  on  the  basis  of  its  technoeconomical considerations.

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## Annexure

## Details of number of Hotspots installed by BSNL in villages, cities/public places/religious places

<pre>

| Name of the Circle   | No. of Hotspots in Villages   |   No. of Hotspots in Cities/Public Places/Religious Places |
|----------------------|-------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| ANDHRA PRADESH       | -                             |                                                        299 |
| CHATTISGARH          | -                             |                                                         12 |
| GUJARAT              | -                             |                                                          8 |
| JAMMU & KASHMIR      | -                             |                                                          4 |
| KARNATAKA            | 142                           |                                                        230 |
| KERALA               | -                             |                                                         80 |
| MADHYA PRADESH       | 2                             |                                                         55 |
| MAHARASHTRA          | 6                             |                                                         52 |
| ODISHA               | -                             |                                                         13 |
| RAJASTHAN            | -                             |                                                         25 |
| TAMIL NADU           | -                             |                                                         47 |
| UP (EAST)            | -                             |                                                         20 |
| UP (WEST)            | -                             |                                                          6 |
| UTTARAKHAND          | -                             |                                                         21 |
| CHENNAI              | -                             |                                                          4 |

</pre>