(a) whether inspite of the tremendous response and demand for BSNL pre-paid and post-paid services, the progress of expansion of BSNL mobile network is very slow in rural and urban parts of the country;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has also noticed that due to capacity constraints many exchanges are unable to issue pre-paid and post-paid cards to the subscribers for a very long time; and
(d) if so, the action plan drawn up to overcome this problem?
THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI DAYANIDHI MARAN)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 117 FOR 24TH FEBRUARY, 2006 REGARDING EXPANSION OF BSNL SERVICES.
(a) to (d) No, Sir. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has expanded its mobile network by an additional capacity of around 7 million during the year 2005-06 vis-Ã -vis a capacity of 4 million in the year 2004-05. However, during the process of expansion inherent inter-network issues are to be addressed which are being progressively resolved. The capacities have been significantly added across the country and it is likely to be available in around six month`s time in the west zone.