Question : Mobile Internet Subscribers

(a) the details of the current number of mobile internet subscribers as of June 2022, state wise, including district wise details for Rajasthan;

(b) the other steps taken by the Government to improve internet quality and e infrastructure;

(c) the details of progress made under National Digital Connectivity Policy, which aims to connect one crore public wifi hotspots by 2022, and the timelines of such hotspots that have been created, state wise including district wise details for Rajasthan;

(d) whether the Government is initiating awareness programmes under the PM-WANI scheme in rural and remote areas to encourage education institutes and MSMEs to connect to the digital space; if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to ensure data protection and privacy of users of public Wi-Fi systems?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMUNICATIONS
(SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) State-wise details of mobile internet subscribers as of May 2022 are at Annexure-I. District-wise information on mobile internet subscribers is not available;

(b) In order to improve internet quality and expansion of telecommunication infrastructure, the Government has initiated a series of policy initiatives such as:-

a. Making available sufficient spectrum for mobile services
b. Allowing spectrum sharing and trading
c. Allowing sharing of infrastructure by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)
d. Notifying Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016 dated 15.11.2016 for regulating underground infrastructure (optical fibre) and over-ground infrastructure (mobile towers);

(c) The information is being collected and will be laid on the table of House.

(d) Yes Sir. Department of Telecommunications has been regularly conducting workshops, webinars and issuing press briefs for the awareness of PM-WANI framework in rural and remote areas of the country; and

(e) Department of Telecommunications has issued instructions to Service Providers regarding secure use of public Wi-Fi access points. Further, detailed guidelines including security conditions have been issued by the Government for the entities operating under PM-WANI framework.