Question : MOBILE CONNECTIVITY

(a) the number of mobile telephone subscribers in the country, state and operator- wise including BSNL and MTNL;

(b) whether a large number of villages particularly in backward areas of the country are yet to be provided with the mobile telephone connectivity;

(c) if so, the details thereof indicating the number of villages yet to be connected with mobile connectivity, State-wise;

(d) whether the telephone service providers particularly private operators are not launching their mobile services/installing mobile towers in these areas and if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government against such operators, operator-wise; and

(e) the measures taken by the Government to provide mobile service in left out districts/villages, State-wise including Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Jharkhand?

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) The number of mobile telephone subscribers in the country, Licence Service Area (LSA)-wise and operator-wise including BSNL and MTNL are as at Table A and Table B respectively of Annexure-I.

(b) & (c) It is estimated that there are about 55,669 villages (as per Census 2011) that do not have mobile coverage. State-wise details of uncovered villages are at Annexure-II.

(d) The Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) provide services as per rollout obligations contained in their respective license agreement. As per rollout obligation in Unified Access Service License (UASL) for 2G Services, the TSPs have to cover, within a Licence Service Area (LSA), 10% of District Headquarters (DHQ)/Towns within first year and 50% of District Headquarters (DHQ)/Towns within third year from the effective date of license. As per rollout obligation for 3G/BWA services 50% of the rural Short Distance Charging Area (SDCA) are to be covered by the licensees by third quarter of 2015.

(e) A scheme to extend financial support from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for provisioning of mobile communication services in the inhabited uncovered villages of the country not having mobile coverage is under consideration. The mobile coverage to uncovered villages is proposed to be provided in a phased manner expeditiously.