(a) the State-wise details of poor mobile network in the country;
(b) the steps taken by the Government to streamline the mobile network in forest areas;
(c) whether the concrete steps have been taken to solve the network problem in the forest area of Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha constituency;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS
(SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)
(a) As per data provided by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and field units of Department of Telecommunications (DoT) as on December 2020, it is estimated that about 5,72,551 villages out of 5,97,618 inhabited census villages (as per Census - 2011) of the country have mobile network coverage and 25,067 inhabited villages do not have mobile network coverage. State/ Union Territory -wise details are given at Annexure-I.
(b) The Government through various schemes/projects under Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) is providing telecommunication services in uncovered inhabited villages including inhabited villages in forest areas of the country in a phased manner. Further, Department of Telecommunications regularly takes up clearance of pending Right of Way (RoW) applications with various Ministries, including Ministry of Environment & Forests, and State Governments.
(c) & (d) Five Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) have been commissioned from December-2020 to January-2021, under USOF schemes to provide 4G coverage in eight villages namely Sitalbari, Rupwaliya, Gardi, Bairiya, Kalan, Barwa Dih, Majurha & Naurangia of Ramnagar Block in West Champaran District of Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha constituency. Moreover, TSPs install mobile towers and BTSs to improve coverage and capacity of their networks based on their techno-commercial requirements from time to time.
(e) Does not arise in view of above.