Question : CELLULAR MOBILE TELECOM SERVICE IN BIHAR

(a) whether the Government propose to provide Mobile Cellular Telephone service in Palamu and Hazaribagh districts of Bihar;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the time by which the said facility is likely to be provided?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS

(TAPAN SIKDAR)

a) to c) Department of Telecom Services ( DTS ) is initially introducing cellular services in few selected cities in the form of a Pilot Project. The cities of Bihar state which are proposed to be covered under pilot project are given below.

1. Patna

2. Biharsarif

3. Hazipur

4. Arah

5. Rajgir 6. Badh

The case for provision of cellular mobile service in other parts of the country is also under process in the department. Regarding provision of cellular phone facility by Private Operators, licenses were granted for operation of Cellular Mobile Telephone Service to M/s Reliance Telecom Private Ltd. (effective date 12.12.1995) and M/s Koshika Telecom Private Limited (effective date 23.8.1996) in Bihar Telecom Circle which includes Palamu and Hazaribagh Districts of Bihar. As per information provided by Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), Cellular Mobile Telephone Service by M/s. Reliance in Bihar is available in Patna, Hazipur, Ranchi, Dhanbad, Jamshedpur, Jharia, Danapur and Chas cities. The licence of M/s Koshika in Bihar is not operational since 22.5.1999. As per the License Agreement to the private cellular operators, atleast 10% of the District Headquarters will be covered in the first year and 50% of the District Headquarters will be covered within three years of effective date of License. The licensees have also been permitted to cover any other town in a District in lieu of the District Headquarters. The choice of District Headquarters/towns to be covered and further expansion beyond 50% of District Headquarters/towns lies with the Licensee companies depending on their business decision.