Question : BTS IN MAHARASHTRA

(a) the number of BTS Basic Telephone System working in the district Nanded in Maharashtra;

(b) if so, whether the consumers in that district are not satisfied by the mobile service provided by the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.;

(c) if so, the reasons therefor;

(d) the number of BTS likely to be installed in Nanded in Maharashtra;

(e) if so, whether every village of Nanded district is likely to be connected with this mobile service of BSNL; and

(f) the number of prepaid cards provided in the Nanded district during the last two years?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD)

(a) Sir, presently 27 numbers of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) based Base Transceiver Station (BTS) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) are working in Nanded District of Maharashtra.

(b) The GSM based cellular mobile service is working satisfactorily in the District in general. However, few requests have been received for issuance of SIM cards, installation of additional BTS and ring media connectivity for BTS etc.

(c) Does not arise in view of (b) above.

(d) Additional 93 number of GSM based BTS have been planned to be installed in Nanded district of Maharashtra.

(e) Sir, every village of Nanded district is not likely to be covered with GSM based mobile service of BSNL. However, there are plans to cover 703 villages in total in Nanded district with the said service.

(f) A total number of 7691 BSNL pre paid cellular mobile connections have been provided in Nanded district in the last two years till date.