Lok Sabha Question No. 364 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Mobile Tower Connectivity in Border Villages
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 364 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  MARCH, 2026

## MOBILE TOWER CONNECTIVITY IN BORDER VILLAGES

## *364.   SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken steps to improve mobile tower connectivity in border villages of Rajasthan, if so, the details thereof; and

(b) whether similar measures are being implemented in other border States and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION

(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)

(a) and (b): 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)  AND (b) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 364 FOR 18 TH  MARCH, 2026, REGARDING MOBILE TOWER CONNECTIVITY IN BORDER VILLAGES.

(a) and (b): Mobile coverage for inhabited uncovered villages is provided by Telecom Service Providers based on techno-commercial viability. The Government, with funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi, has approved various schemes for expansion of telecom connectivity through installation of mobile towers in the rural, remote and border areas of the country, including in the State of Rajasthan.

97.28% of villages/locations in the border areas of Rajasthan already have mobile coverage. Districtwise details of mobile coverage in villages in the border areas of Rajasthan are at Annex .

In  addition,  the  Government  has  also  taken  number  of  other  initiatives  to  enhance  mobile connectivity in the country, including in border areas. These include the following:

- (a) Licensing  conditions  of  Telecom  Service  Providers  have  been  amended  to  remove restrictions on installation of mobile towers near international border areas.
- (b) The  Telecommunications  (Right  of  Way)  Rules,  2024  have  been  made  under  the Telecommunications  Act,  2023  to  enable  faster  and  easier  rollout  of  telecommunication networks and the Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal has been launched to facilitate faster approval to applications for right of way for such networks.

Annex referred to in the reply to parts (a) and (b) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *364 to be answered on 18 th  March, 2026, raised by Hon'ble Member of Parliament, regarding Mobile Tower Connectivity in Border Villages.

## District-wise mobile coverage details of villages/locations in border areas of Rajasthan

| S. no.   | District       | Total villages / locations in border areas   | Villages / locations having mobile coverage (2G/3G/4G)   |   Uncovered villages / locations |   Percentage of villages / locations covered |
|----------|----------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Barmer         | 183                                          | 175                                                      |                                8 |                                        95.63 |
| 2        | Bikaner        | 52                                           | 52                                                       |                                0 |                                       100    |
| 3        | Jaisalmer      | 186                                          | 159                                                      |                               27 |                                        85.48 |
| 4        | Sri Ganganagar | 901                                          | 900                                                      |                                1 |                                        99.88 |
| Total    | Total          | 1,322                                        | 1,286                                                    |                               36 |                                        97.28 |

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