(a) whether some private players in the telecom sector are not following the Government
guidelines to increase rural telephone network;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the status of rural telephony across the country both in terms of Wireless in Local Loop
(WLL) and Mobile Technology, Stat-wise?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 3 FOR 23RD NOVEMBER, 2005 REGARDING RURAL TELEPHONY.
(a) & (b) With the migration of Private Basic Service Operators to Unified Access Service Licences in November 2003, their obligation towards providing rural coverage has been changed to coverage of 50% District Head Quarters (DHQs) or towns in 3 years, i.e. upto November, 2006.
All the players (private and public) in the telecom sector are paying Universal Service Levy (USL) at the rate of 5% of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) which is being utilized for increasing rural telephone network.
(c) A statement indicating the status of rural telephony across the country-state wise is at Annexure-I. Operators are not maintaining segregated database for urban and rural mob0e connections. Total number of connections provided by various operators is given state wise in Annexure-II.