Lok Sabha Question No. 69 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-24
Subject: Telecom Services
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: DHARAMBIR BHALERAM, RAJU ALIAS DEVAPPA ANNA SHETTI, RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD, P.R. SUNDARAM, KIRTI (JHA) AZAD, SANKAR PRASAD DATTA, RAM CHARITRA, PARAYAMPARANBIL KUTTAPPAN BIJU, INNOCENT, S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA, RITI PATHAK, R.P. MARUTHARAJAA, B.V. NAYAK, P. KARUNAKARAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.69

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  FEBRUARY, 2016

## TELECOM SERVICES

†69.   SHRI DHARAMBIR:

SHRI RAJU SHETTY:

PROF. RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD:

SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

SHRI KIRTI AZAD:

SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA:

SHRI RAM CHARITRA NISHAD:

SHRI P.K. BIJU:

SHRI INNOCENT:

SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA:

SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:

SHRI R.P. MARUTHARAJAA:

SHRI B.V. NAIK:

SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN:

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

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited  (BSNL)  particularly  in Madhya Pradesh and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) are lagging behind in  expansion of service area and quality in comparison with their private counterparts across  the  country and  their  services  and  telecom  network  in  several  telecom circles/districts has been continuously deteriorating;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  State-wise  and  PSU-wise  along  with  the  concrete measures being taken by the Government to streamline and strengthen the services of BSNL and MTNL;
- (c) whether the services of BSNL in several districts have been paralysed and some sub-centres under telephone exchanges are on the verge of closing down;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reason therefor, State-wise; and
- (e) the details of action taken by the  Government  to  improve  the  network connectivity, customer care service and expansion of their network coverage, particularly of BSNL, in rural and backward areas of various States, State-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  monitors  the  quality  of service  (QoS)  of  all  the  telecom  service  providers  including  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL).  The report of TRAI is as follows:

## BSNL:

As  per  the  performance  monitoring  report  of  TRAI  for  the  quarter  ending December,  2015 , for  cellular  mobile  telephone  services  2G,  BSNL's  performance  is generally comparable with other service providers. As regards Basic services (Wireline), BSNL is meeting all the parameters in all the service areas.  Therefore, the performance of BSNL is better as compared to other service providers.

## MTNL:

Regarding  the  performance  of  MTNL,  in  respect  of  Cellular  mobile  Telephone service, it is meeting, in general, the benchmark prescribed by TRAI for the Quality of service  parameters.  However,  in  respect  of  Basic  services  (Wireline),  MTNL  is  not meeting the benchmarks in respect of some of the parameters like Fault Repaired within 5 days (Delhi & Mumbai) and Termination/Closure of service (Mumbai).

So far as expansion of telecom network is concerned, BSNL and MTNL upgrade and augment their networks on techno-commercial consideration on a continuous basis including  the  circles.    BSNL  and  MTNL  have  taken  several  steps  to  improve  their network and quality of service.  Some of the steps are as follows:

## BSNL:

-  BSNL  has  planned  to  install  10,510  3G  Base  Transceiver  Stations  (BTSs)  & 14,232 2G BTSs under Phase-VII GSM expansion for 15 Million lines.  It has also planned to install additional 9600 3G BTSs and 5300 old BTSs in North & South Zone. This will also include replacing of 5300 old BTSs of GSM Phase I , II & III. An approximate capacity of 5 million shall be added in the GSM network of North Zone & South Zone. BSNL has already commissioned over 16.42 million lines. Out  of  the  planned  BTSs,  9829  (3G)  BTSs  &  12,491  (2G)  BTSs  are  radiating (Total 22,320). This will improve 2G & 3G network coverage & data capability of 3G network.
-  BSNL has planned to implement ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) as one of the important IT initiative in two phases i.e. Phase-I Proof of Concept (POC) and Phase-2  Rollout.  The  ERP  has  been  implemented  in  all  the  49  units  including eight Proof of Concept (POC) Circles .
-  During this Five Year Plan (2012-17), BSNL has planned to make the entire wire line  customer  base  network  IP  enabled.  Next  Generation  Network  (NGN) equipment based on the latest architecture are planned to be deployed gradually to replace the entire Circuit Switched equipments/ Digital Telephone Exchanges.
-  BSNL has set wireline call centres for the customers of landline and broadband at Dehradun, Ajmer and Bangalore and traffic from all  circles has been migrated to these  call  centres.  These  call  centres  are  accessible  through  toll  free  number 1500 (from BSNL number) and 18003451500 (from other operator numbers).

## MTNL:

-  MTNL has planned to upgrade the existing High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) 3G network supporting Downlink speed of 3.6 Mbps & Uplink speed of 384 Kbps to HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access +) with Downlink speed of 21.1 Mbps & Uplink speed of 5.76 Mbps per sector.
-  MTNL  is  taking  steps  for  up-gradation  /  augmentation  /  expansion  of  existing 2G/3G network.
-  MTNL is planning to provide the backhaul media connectivity of existing mobile tower sites in Delhi & Mumbai on OFC network in place of Microwave network.
-  MTNL is also exploring synergy with BSNL for its mobile services amongst other initiatives.

-  MTNL has  set  up  wireline  call  centers  for  the  customers  of  landline,  mobile  & broadband at Delhi and Mumbai. These call centers are accessible through Toll Free numbers 1500/1503/1504 (from MTNL numbers). These call centres handle all  types of inbound queries, directory enquiries, complaints, requests, outbound calling and response through SMS (Short Message service)/e-mail/fax/web portal.

(c) & (d) No Madam, BSNL has reported that its services under various telephone exchanges are meeting, in general, the quality of service parameters as prescribed by TRAI. BSNL takes decisions of running of its exchanges based on techno-economical considerations.

(e) BSNL has reported that it endeavours to improvise the communication system in the country in its licensed service areas. The expansion & up-gradation of the telecom network  in  BSNL  is  a  continuous  process  in  urban  &  rural  areas  including  backward areas for providing better connectivity & coverage, depending upon techno- commercial viability.

Further, Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has taken up several projects to  improve  the  telecom  network  in  rural  and  remote  areas  through  Universal  Service Obligation Fund (USOF).  Some of these projects are as follows:

-  To provide better mobile services in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, USOF has awarded to BSNL to install 2199 (BTSs).
-  USOF is implementing a comprehensive telecom developing plan for the North East  Region  (NER)  at  the  estimated  cost  of  Rs.5336.18  crores.    This  NER scheme has following components:
- (i) Provision of mobile services in uncovered villages.
- (ii) Provision of seamless mobile coverage along the National Highways.
- (iii)  Augmentation of Transmission media.
-  USOF is augmenting the telecom network in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands.
-  National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) is being implemented to connect 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats with broadband.

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