Question : 4G based Mobile Phones

(a) whether there has been sharp increase in the number of consumers using 4G based mobile phones since the launch of 4G services;

(b) if so, the details thereof including the number of 4G based mobile phones during each of the last two years, State/UT wise;

(c) whether the Government has taken note of the fact that telecom operators are unable to maintain the internet speed commensurate with increase in the number of 4G consumers; and

(d) whether the Government has directed the telecom operators to enhance their infrastructure in proportion to the number of consumers and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS &
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) & (b) Madam, the 4G Subscribers, License Service Area (LSA)-wise, for the period ending March 2017, March 2018, and September 2018 is enclosed as Annexure. The data exhibits sharp increase in the number of consumers using 4G services.

(c) The speed of mobile internet is dependent on a number of factors such as the number of users being served and the traffic handled by the cell, closeness to the tower serving the customer, the user equipment/mobile handset used by the customer etc. As such, the 4G mobile users may experience different speeds at different locations and time of usage.

(d) In order to enhance the infrastructure in proportion to the number of consumers following steps are taken by Government: -

i. Making available sufficient spectrum for mobile services including auction of 965MHz across the band 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300 and 2500 MHz bands in 2016.
ii. Allowing Spectrum Sharing, Trading and liberalization of administratively allocated spectrum as per guidelines.
iii. Permitting sharing of active as well as passive infrastructure by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)for achieving higher utilization efficiency.
iv. Permitting Internet Protocol based interconnections between TSPs in addition to prevailing arrangements.
v. Notification of Indian Telegraph Rights of Way Rules, 2016 in November 2016 for regulating underground Infrastructure (optical fiber) and over-ground infrastructure (mobile towers).
vi. Periodic review of expansion of mobile networks and related improvements carried out by TSPs.