Question : MOBILE TOWERS ALONG BORDER

(a) whether the BSNL has sought allocation of special funds for installing mobile phone towers in far flung bordering areas including China in the Ladakh region of J&K to meet the needs of the security forces;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether in the absence of proper mobile phone towers along the international border areas including China, the security forces and villagers have no proper communication links and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to allocate special funds to BSNL to install mobile phone towers along and near border areas keeping in view the security aspects; and

(e) if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard so far?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. (SMT.) KILLI KRUPARANI)

(a) to (e) Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has informed that it has planned to install 28 additional mobile phone towers in Ladakh region of Jammu & Kashmir. No formal proposal for funding capital investment has been received by Government from BSNL for this purpose. Telecom Commission has approved in principle the recommendation of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for provision of mobile connectivity in uncovered villages in the North-East including Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The Telecom Commission has also approved that provision of mobile connectivity to uncovered villages in the State of Arunachal Pradesh would be implemented with funding from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) through BSNL on nomination basis based on a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to be approved by the competent authority. The work of mobile connectivity to uncovered villages in other states of the North East would be awarded on transparent competitive bidding basis as per normal rules and procedures of USOF.

BSNL provides services in border areas after getting no objection certificate (NOC)/clearance from Army. BSNL ascertains coverage problems occurring along the border in joint survey with security forces and takes necessary corrective measures.