(a) the number of telecom projects undertaken under Built Owned Lease Transfer (BOLT) scheme during the Ninth five Year Plan, State-wise;
(b) the investment made under BOLT scheme in the telecom sector during the above period;
(c) the performance of the projects undertaken under the said scheme;
(d) whether any strategy has been formulated to invite more private investment in telecom sector during the Tenth Five Year Plan; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SANJAY PASWAN)
(a) to (c): Sir, no projects under BOLT schemes have been undertaken during the Ninth Five Year Plan.
(d) & (e): In order to supplement the efforts of the Government in increasing the teledensity in the country, private sector participation was allowed in the telephone services with the announcement of National Telecom Policy, 1994 (NTP, 1994). New Telecom Policy, 1999 paved the way for private sector participation in all the telecom services. As per the reports of the Working Group on telecom sector, private sector investment envisaged during the 10th Five Year Plan is Rs. 46,291 crores. With the opening up of International Long Distance service to private sector w.e.f. 1st April, 2002, the private sector investment is now allowed in all the sub sectors of telecom.