(a) the number of telephone exchanges working on optical fibre media in Andhra Pradesh at present;
(b) whether the Government propose to modernise transmission links to some exchanges by optical fibre;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) the number of such telephone exchanges modernised during the last three years; and
(e) the number of exchanges likely to be modernised on UHF/Microwave and Satellite Media?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)
(a) 1997 Exchanges on Optical Fibre media and 621 exchanges on Microwave media are working in A.P. Telecom Circle as on 30.6.2001.
(b) A.P. Telecom Circle has plans to provide reliable media viz. Optical Fibre Cable, Microwave etc. to all exchanges by March, 2002 subject to availability of resources.
(c) 73 remaining exchanges not having reliable media will be connected on Optical Fibre Cable during this year. Out of this 63 will be connected on Optical Fibre Cable.
(d) 1940 exchanges were connected by reliable media during last three years in A.P. Telecom Circle.
(e) 10 out of the remaining 73 exchanges presently on non-reliable media will provided reliable media on Microwave during this year.