(a) the details of the number of mobile towers installation target across the country vis a vis mobile towers actually installed under National Broadband Mission;
(b) the reasons for very slow progress in installation of mobile towers especially in cities and towns; and
(c) the time by which the broadband access is likely to be provided to all the villages across the country particularly, in Bihar?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS
(SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)
(a) Total Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) in India have increased from around 8 lakh in 2014 to 23.55 lakh in June 2022. Under the National Broadband Mission, it is envisaged to increase Telecom Towers up to 15 Lakh by 2024-25. As on June 2022, 7.23 Lakh towers have been installed in the country, which includes about 4,300 mobile towers installed under various schemes under Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
(b) Telecom Services Providers (TSPs) install towers/Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) as per their techno-commercial viability and to fulfil the rollout obligation criteria as per their License Conditions. Multiple factors, delay faster roll out, such as inability to install additional BTSs on existing Towers due to loading issues, opposition from local residents due to perceived fear of EMF (Electro-Magnetic Field) radiation, delays in getting Right of Way (RoW) permissions, non-availability of suitable structure at a few places, inaccessible terrain, transportation difficulties of equipment at some locations.
The Right of Way (RoW) delays have been mitigated by coordination with, States/ UTs/ Central agencies so that they align their RoW policies in accordance with Central RoW rules.
Launch of Centralised RoW portal - GatiShakti Sanchar, inaugurated on 14th May 2022, facilitates online applications, processing, clearance and dashboards for top level monitoring.
(c) As on June 2022, total 1,77,550 Gram Panchayats (GPs) have been made service ready in the country including 8,307 Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the State of Bihar, under the BharatNet Project. The scope of BharatNet on 30.06.2021 has been extended upto all inhabited villages beyond GPs in the country. Timeline of the BharatNet Project is upto 2025.