New Delhi: The Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, recently informed Parliament that as of 31 October 2024, India has a total of 115.12 crore mobile subscriptions.
Out of the 6,44,131 villages in the country, approximately 6,23,622 villages now have mobile coverage. Mobile services in uncovered areas are being expanded in a phased manner by telecom service providers (TSPs) and through government initiatives aimed at overcoming the techno-commercial challenges in rural and remote regions.
Digital Bharat Nidhi: Enhancing Rural Connectivity
Under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) (formerly Universal Service Obligation Fund), the government is implementing several schemes and projects to boost telecom connectivity in rural, remote, and hilly areas. Some of the key projects include:
Saturation of 4G Mobile Services in Uncovered Villages:
- Approved in 2022 at a cost of Rs 26,316 crore, this project aims to provide 4G services to 24,680 uncovered villages, particularly in remote and challenging terrains.
- It includes upgrading 6,279 villages with only 2G or 3G services to 4G. The initiative is being executed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) using the Atmanirbhar Bharat 4G technology stack.
Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Phase-II Project:
- Initially approved in 2018 to install 4,072 mobile towers in LWE-affected areas with subsidy support of Rs 7,330 crore, the project has been updated to include 2,542 tower locations for 4G services.
- As of 28 October 2024, 1,093 sites have been covered with 1,038 mobile towers installed across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.
Aspirational District Project:
- Covering 7,287 uncovered villages across 44 aspirational districts in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Odisha, this project involves installing 4,779 towers.
- At a cost of Rs 3,685 crore, agreements were signed with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. By October 2024, 3,120 villages have been connected via 2,023 towers.
LWE Phase-I Upgradation:
- This initiative, launched in 2014, targeted 2,199 locations in LWE-affected regions with 2G mobile services, later upgraded to cover 2,355 sites. The project has been successfully completed.
Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for North-East and Islands:
- Funded by DBN, this project focuses on providing mobile connectivity to uncovered villages and national highways in the North-Eastern Region (NER). As of October 2024, 2,619 towers covering 3,223 villages and 286 national highway locations have been installed.
BharatNet Project: Broadband for Gram Panchayats
It is understood that the BharatNet initiative, earlier known as the National Optical Fiber Network, is being implemented in phases to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs).
The amended BharatNet Programme, approved in August 2023, aims to upgrade the existing network, cover an additional 42,000 GPs, and ensure operation and maintenance for 10 years. The total approved cost for this initiative is Rs 1,39,579 crore.
Impact on Rural and Remote Areas
These projects are pivotal for enhancing digital inclusion in India’s rural and remote regions. By focusing on providing equitable access to communications technologies, the government aims to empower citizens with socio-economic benefits and bridge the digital divide.
As India progresses toward achieving universal mobile connectivity, initiatives like DBN-funded projects and the BharatNet Programme exemplify the government’s commitment to enabling connectivity, fostering economic development, and making India digitally inclusive.
