(a) the total number of fishery cluster areas in the deep sea of the country where telecom towers have been installed during each of the last two years and the current year, harbours and telecom company-wise;
(b) the number of such towers proposed to be installed in deep sea areas in the coming financial year, State/UT-wise; and
(c) the challenges faced by the Government in the installation of such towers and the solutions identified by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, LAW & JUSTICE AND
ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a) to (c) Mobile services are not provided by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) in the deep sea and no telecom tower has been installed and neither proposed for this purpose.
However, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is providing satellite based Global Satellite Phone Service (GSPS), which has coverage in deep sea area also. The GSPS provides voice call and short messaging facility. This service is being availed by fishermen through Fishery Department of Tamil Nadu and Kerala state government.