Lok Sabha Question No. 2904 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Free Mobiles and Tablets
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2904 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  AUGUST, 2016

## FREE MOBILES AND TABLETS

2904. SHRI GODSE HEMANT TUKARAM:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to provide free mobile phones and tablets to the targeted beneficiaries to bridge the gap of digital divide;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  expenditure involved therein  along with the time by which the scheme is likely to be implemented; and
- (d) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  spread  usage  of  mobile phones/internet in rural areas?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) to (d) No,  Madam. There  is  no  such  proposal  to  provide  free  mobile  phone and tablets to the targeted beneficiaries. However, the Department has taken several measures for expansion and improvement of telecommunication/internet services in rural and remote areas as given below:
- (i) Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for the North-Eastern Region (NER): On 10.09.2014, the Government approved a proposal to implement a Comprehensive  Telecom  Development  Plan  for  the  North-Eastern  Region (NER).    The  Project  envisages  providing  mobile  coverage  to  8621  identified uncovered villages by installation of about 6673 mobile towers, installation of 321  mobile tower sites along National  Highways  and strengthening of transmission network in the NER.  The estimated cost of implementation is Rs. 5336.18 crore.  The Project would be funded from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). The tenders for setting of towers have already been floated.
- (ii) Mobile  Communication  Services  in  LWE  affected  areas: 2199  mobile towers are being set up in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected States with a total estimated cost of Rs.3567.58 crore. 2056 mobile towers are operational as on 18.07.2016.

- (iii) Comprehensive  Telecom  Development  Plan  for  Andaman  &  Nicobar Islands  and  Lakshadweep  Islands: Telecom  Commission  has  given  'in principle'  approval  on  07.11.2014  for  Comprehensive  Telecom  Development Plan including provision of mobile connectivity for Andaman & Nicobar Islands and  Lakshadweep  Islands  with  a  total  estimated  investment  of  Rs.  221.05 crore, which consists of the following components:
- (a) Rs 91.16 crores for providing 2G (voice) coverage in uncovered villages.
- (b) Rs 9.40 crores for providing seamless 2G (voice) connectivity along NH.
- (c) Rs 20 crores for augmentation of OFC Network.
- (d) Rs 100.49 crores for augmentation of Satellite system.

## (iv) Provision of Mobile Services in Himalayan and Border States:

Work for preparation of  Detailed Project Reports (DPR) in respect of  4752 uncovered  villages  in  Himalayan  States  (Jammu  &  Kashmir,  Himachal Pradesh  and  Uttarakhand)  and  2138  villages  Border  States  (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana) has been entrusted to M/s  Telecom Consultations India Limited (TCIL).

- (v) National  Optical  Fibre  Network  (NOFN)/BharatNet: National  Optical  Fibre Network  (NOFN)  project,  renamed  as  BharatNet,  is  planned  to  establish  a network infrastructure by connecting all Gram Panchayats (approx. 2.5 lakh) in the  country  through  Optical  Fibre  Cable  (OFC)   by  using  an  optimal  mix  of underground  fibre,  fibre  over  power  lines,  radio  and  satellite  media,  for providing broadband connectivity by all categories of service providers on nondiscriminatory basis.

The project is planned to be implemented in three phases.  Under first phase of the project, 1 lakh  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  are  to  be  connected  by  laying underground OFC by March 2017. Under second phase, connectivity will be provided to remaining 1.5 lakh GPs in the country using an optimal mix of underground fibre, fibre over power lines, radio and satellite media, by December, 2018. A state- of- theart future-proof network, including fibre between districts and blocks and with for 5G services  and  Internet  of  Things  era  with  underground  OFC  in  ring  architecture,  is planned to be completed by 2023 under third phase.

As on 16.07.2016, Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) has been laid to 54,635 Gram Panchayats (GPs) with a total length of 1,26,853 km. Out of these, 7342 GPs have been provided with broadband connectivity.

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