(a) Whether private service providers are not interested to extend their services
in rural areas;
(b) If so, the reasons therefor;
(c) Whether the Government proposes to make it mandatory for all service providers to extend their services in such areas; and
(d) If so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD)
(a) & (b) The private sector telecom service providers are generally focusing more
on urban areas because of higher revenue per line in urban areas compared to that
in rural areas. Higher economic and literacy status as well as easier availability of
supporting infrastructure in the urban areas are also contributing factors.
(c) No, Sir.
(d) Following steps have been taken by the Government to improve telecom
services in rural areas:-
(i) Provision of Village Public Telephones (VPTs) in all the remaining uncovered
eligible villages, excluding villages having less than 100 population, lying in thick
forest areas/naxalite infested areas etc.
(ii) Provision of Rural Community phones (RCPs) with population more than
2000 and where there are no Public Call Offices (PCOs).
(iii) Replacement of Multi-Access Radio Relay (MARR) VPTs.
(iv) Provision of Rural individual phone connections (RDELs) on demand in 1685
commercially unviable Short Distance Charging Areas (SDCAs).
(v) Large scale deployment of Wireless in Local Loop (WLL) network in rural areas by BSNL.
(vi) Relaxation of the outdoor cable norms to 5 kms as against the earlier norm of 2.5
kms for landline exchanges by BSNL.
(vii) BSNL has planned extensive infrastructure rollout which will provide mobile coverage.