(a) whether there is poor reception of cellular phones in the cantonment areas due to absence
of mobile towers;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith proposal,if any,to install mobile towers in the said
areas to improve the working of cellular phones;and
(c) the security aspects considered in this regard?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE(SHRI A.K. ANTONY)
(a) to (c): With a view to improve the coverage and quality of the communication services in the
Cantonment areas, policy guidelines relating to provision of Defence land to Communication
Operators to construct Shared Communication Towers and other Infrastructure to extend
Communication Network to Cantonments have been issued by the Ministry of Defence. It has been
decided that the Public Sector and Independent Infrastructure Providers (IP-I), who have been
granted licence by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to build, operate & maintain various
services, such as Unified Access Services, Basic Services & Cellular Mobile Services, etc, may be
considered for allotment of Defence land on lease hold basis, to lay the Optical Fibre Cables and
set up/construct shared communication towers on Defence land at cantonment areas on certain terms
and conditions.Government have also duly considered security aspects while formulating policy
guidelines.