THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI GURUDAS KAMAT)
(a) & (b) Telecommunication facilities in the country are being provided by public and
private telecom service providers. The private service providers have made investments as
under:
Sl.No. Year (March ending) Private Sector (Gross Block Investment Cumulative (in Rs. Crores)
1. March 2007 105448
2. March 2008 133851
3. March 2009 188499
Rural – Urban break-up of private sector investment is not available.
(c) The Government has taken/being taken following steps for increase of telecom
facilities especially in rural and backward areas through USOF scheme by.
(i) Providing subsidy support for installation of Rural Household Direct Exchange Lines
(RDELs) in 1685 Short Distance Charging Areas (SDCAs) out of 2647 total SDCAs in the country,
where cost of providing telephone is more than the revenue earned. As on 31.10.2009, out of
total 67.85 lakh RDELs about 46.34 Lakh RDELs have been provided by private service providers.
(ii) Providing subsidy support for setting up and managing 7871 (revised to 7436) number
of infrastructure sites (towers) in 500 districts spread over 27 states for provision of
mobile services in the specified rural and remote areas, where there is no existing fixed
wireless or mobile coverage. As on 31.10.2009, out of 6648 towers set up under this scheme,
1561 towers have been set up by private service providers.
(iii) Provision of broadband connectivity to villages in a phased manner.
(iv) Creation of general infrastructure like optical fibre cable in rural and remote
areas.
(v) Induction of new technological developments in the telecom sector on a Pilot Project
basis in rural and remote areas.
