Question : UTILISATION OF NETWORK CAPACITY

(a) the details of the mobile towers of BSNL and MTNL and their network coverage capacity, State-wise including North-Eastern States and other border areas;

(b) whether both the companies are fully utilizing their network capacity;

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether BSNL service in the North- Eastern States is being affected due to the shortage of essential equipment and if so, the steps being taken in this regard;

(e) whether telecom/mobile services are being affected in the country particularly in the rural areas due to the frequent failure of generators/non-supply of fuel to power these generators in the telephone exchanges/mobile towers; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI KAPIL SIBAL)

(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 LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 101 FOR 21ST MARCH, 2012 REGARDING `UTILISATION OF NETWORK CAPACITY`

(a) The details of the Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), their network capacity and number of working mobile connections, Circle-wise including North-Eastern States and other border areas are given in Annexure-1.

(b)&(c) Yes, Madam. BSNL and MTNL are fully utilizing their network capacity. BSNL network is over loaded. There has been a capacity constraint in BSNL in some states including North East.

(d) Yes, Madam. The mobile telecom services being provided by BSNL in the North Eastern States are being partially affected due to the shortage of Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) based mobile equipment in BSNL. Shortage of mobile equipment is due to the fact that BSNL could not procure the GSM based equipment in the last few years. For future expansion, BSNL has initiated the action for procurement of GSM equipment.

(e)&(f) Yes, Madam. In some rural areas of few circles, the telecom services of BSNL are affected due to unstable power supply, prolonged operation of generator sets due to non availability of power supply causing their occasional failure, difficulty in transportation of Diesel in remote and inaccessible areas and due to law and order situation in some areas. Arrangements for the additional generator sets are made by BSNL on need basis to minimize the outage due to failure of generator sets. In addition, continuous efforts are being made by BSNL to take up the matter with concerned electricity authorities for improvement in power position.