MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS &
ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (f) 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 (f) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 253 FOR 15TH DECEMBER, 2021 REGARDING “BHARAT BROADBAND NETWORK”
(a) to (c) BharatNet project is implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under the Department of Telecommunications, is the Executing Agency for the project. The scope of BharatNet on 30.06.2021 was extended upto all inhabited villages beyond GPs in the country and the Union Cabinet accorded approval for a revised strategy for implementation of BharatNet through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in 16 States of the country covering about 3.61 lakh villages, which will harness private sector capabilities for execution, maintenance and utilization of network for delivery of services.
As proper functioning of Network is required for its effective utilization, the network is monitored through Network Operating Centre (NOC) and its reports are being monitored on a regular basis.
The infrastructure created under BharatNet project is a national asset, accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to the Service Providers, and the same can be utilized for provisioning of broadband/internet services through Wi-Fi Hotspots, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections, leased lines, dark fibre, backhaul to mobile towers, etc.
As on 30.11.2021, a total number of 1,67,156 GPs are made Service Ready in the country. 4218 Gbps of bandwidth and 31,144 km of dark fibre have been leased from BharatNet network.
(d) to (f) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has been monitoring the performance of service providers against the benchmarks for various Quality of Service parameters, through Quarterly Performance Monitoring Reports (PMRs), submitted by Service Providers.
Major steps taken by the Department to improve the internet speed, as envisioned in National Digital Communications Policy - 2018 issued in October 2018 with the missions which inter-alia includes provisioning of Universal Broadband connectivity at 50 Mbps to every citizen, as below:
I. The number of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) of 4G technology has increased to 16.47 lakh in November 2021 from almost negligible numbers in 2014.
II. The Department has launched National Broadband Mission on 17.12.2019 with a vision to fast-track growth of digital communications infrastructure, through fiberisation of towers, raising the Telecom Tower density and thereby providing affordable and Universal access of broadband to all.
III. The Department is implementing various schemes for expansion of internet/broadband services in rural and remote areas, with funding from Universal Service Obligation Fund. The list of major schemes is given in Annexure-I.
Annexure-I
Annexure referred to in Parts (d) to (f) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 253 for answer on 15.12.2021
The Government has the following major schemes for expansion of internet/broadband services in rural and remote areas of the country with support from Universal Service Obligation Fund:
1. BharatNet project to create network to connect all the Gram Panchayats (approximately 2.6 lakh) with broadband in the country. The scope of BharatNet on 30.06.2021 was extended upto all inhabited villages beyond GPs in the country.
2. Provision of 4G mobile services in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas under Phase-II
3. Provision of Mobile Services in Uncovered villages in Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh (National Highways only) of NER and seamless coverage along National Highway
4. Provision of 4G Mobile Services in Uncovered villages of Meghalaya and seamless coverage along National Highway
5. Provision of 4G Mobile Services in Uncovered Villages of Arunachal Pradesh and 2 Districts of Assam
6. Hiring of 10 Gbps International Bandwidth for Internet Connectivity to Agartala from BSCCL, Bangladesh via Cox Bazar
7. Provision of mobile connectivity in 354 uncovered villages of J&K, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Border area & other priority areas
8. Provision of 4G mobile connectivity in 502 uncovered villages of Aspirational Districts in four States (namely Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh & Rajasthan)
9. Remaining 7,287 Aspirational District villages (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Odisha) for provision of mobile services
10. Provision of 4G Mobile Coverage in 85 uncovered Villages and seamless 4G Mobile coverage of NH223 in Andaman & Nicobar Islands
11. Laying of submarine optical fibre cable between Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar Islands
12. Submarine OFC Connectivity between Mainland India (Kochi) and Lakshadweep Islands
13. Public Wi-Fi hotspots at the 25,000 rural telephone exchanges of BSNL
*******
Download PDF Files
