Question : BSNL MOBILE TOWERS

(a) whether the communication towers of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. which provides mobile network facility to their customers remain out of order for long time due to power cuts in some States/UTs of the country, especially in Bihar;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to make necessary arrangements to provide power back-up facility for these towers in order to overcome the power-cut problems being faced by BSNL mobile customers; and

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

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) & (b) Yes, Madam. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL’s) communication network and services are affected due to poor electricity supply in some states/UTs of the country including Bihar. While interruptions do occur in services due to non availability of power supply and frequent cuts in OFC (Optical Fibre Cable) routes mainly due to road construction acti vities, poor battery back up is also a major reason for interruptions. Due to failures in power supply, network parameters of Quality of Service (QoS) prescribed by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) get affected adversely.

(c) & (d) BSNL has requested the electricity distribution companies, in the country, where required including Bihar, to provide electricity connections expeditiously. BSNL is also separately taking steps to procure and install new batteries to improve backup power supply.