Question : MOBILE TELEPHONE SERVICE IN RURAL AREAS



(a) whether the Government has not provided the mobile telephone facility in the rural areas so far despite the modern and advanced technology being in place;

(b) if so, whether some officials are working at the behest of private telephone service providers and they don`t want to expand mobile telephone service in order to serve the interests of these private telephone service providers;

(c) if so, whether the Government has got any survey/investigation carried out at their level in this regard;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) if not, the reaction of the Government thereto?

Answer given by the minister


THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD)

(a) Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) had already covered 2,66,381 villages in the country with its mobile services and propose to cover the villages having population more than 1000 progressively in the next three years.

(b) to (e) Do not arise in view of (a) above.