THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a) & (b) The telecom sector growth in urban and rural areas in the country during last three years is as below:
As Rural Tele- Urban Tele- on density density 31st March, 39.22 169.55 2012 31st March, 41.02 146.96 2013 31st March, 43.96 145.78 2014 31st May, 2014 44.40 145.56
The difference between rural and urban teledensity has been reducing over the last three years though at a slow rate Some of the reasons for non uniform telecom growth in rural areas are:
(i) Higher Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operational Expenditure (OPEX) with lower average revenue per user (ARPU).
(ii) Acute shortage of Grid power.
(iii) Lack of support infrastructure.
(c) As on 31.05.2014, 11,233 Villages out of the 5,93,601 inhabited villages of the country as per Census 2001 are yet to be provided with Village Public Telephones (VPTs) facility. State-wise details are given in Annexure. The remaining 11,233 villages are being covered with VPTs by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) through an ongoing Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) scheme.
National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN): NOFN project is planned to connect all Gram Panchayats (approx. 2.5 Lakh) in the country through optical fibre utilizing existing fibers of Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) viz. BSNL, RailTel and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) and laying incremental fiber wherever necessary to bridge the connectivity gap between Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Blocks, for providing broadband connectivity.
Comprehensive telecom development Plan for North Eastern Region (NER): In its meeting held on 13.06.2014, the Telecom Commission recommended a proposal to implement the Comprehensive Telecom development Plan for North Eastern Region (NER). Main thrust of the plan is to provide mobile coverage in identified uncovered villages, seamless mobile coverage along National Highways and Transmission Media augmentation.
(d) & (e) Government is preparing a plan of action. The details are being formalized.
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