Question : Network Coverage and Availability of Spectrum

(a) the steps taken by the Government to ensure a seamless network cover across the country to provide reliable data and voice;

(b) whether the Government is emulating the Australian model of standard Spectrum Trading Unit and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the current base price of spectrum in the country;

(d) whether any subsidy/incentive has been provided by the Government to ensure availability of spectrum for rural areas and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the spectrum for rural areas is as expensive as the spectrum for urban areas and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(f) the details of compensation to customers provided by telecom companies for failing to deliver quality data and not following internet-mobile plans as per customer’s choice; and

(g) the current status of Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) along with the fund spent from USOF during each of the last three years?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS,
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) The Government has taken several policy initiatives to facilitate infrastructure growth which include permitting trading/sharing/ liberalisation of spectrum, permitting passive & active infrastructure sharing, notification of Right of Way Rules 2016, making available government land/buildings for installations of towers etc. As a result, around 15.57 lakh additional Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) for 2G/3G/4G-LTE services have been added by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) during the period from April 2014 (6.49 lakh BTS) to 30th November, 2019 (22.06 lakh BTS) and 1.67 lakh mobile towers have been added during the period from Dec’ 2015 (4.15 lakh) to 30th November 2019 (5.82 lakh mobile towers) across the country. Also, total number of Internet subscriber has increased to 665.31 million (in June, 2019) from 259.14 million (in June, 2014).

As regards, the steps to ensure seamless network cover across the country to provide reliable data and voice Quality of Service, close monitoring of performance of service providers, against the benchmarks for various Quality of Service parameters laid down by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), follow up actions with service providers for improving quality of service, Audit and Assessment of Quality of Service through independent agencies, Drive Tests etc. are being done. Further, publication of performance report of service providers, results of Audit & Assessment of Quality of Service on TRAI website namely www.trai.gov.in for information of stakeholders are forcing the service providers to improve its service.

(b)&(c) The Government had sought the recommendations of TRAI. TRAI in its recommendations has noted the Spectrum Trading practices in a number of countries including Australia. Based on the recommendations and other considerations, the final decision on Spectrum Trading was taken by the Government. Reserve Price of Spectrum in various bands is given at Annexure-I.

(d) No subsidy/incentive has been provided by the Government to ensure availability of spectrum for rural areas.

(e) There is no difference between urban and rural areas as far as pricing of spectrum is concerned.

(f) No compensation has been provided so far.

(g) A balance of an amount of ` 52907 Crore is available in the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) at the end of October 2019. Fund disbursed during last three years is given at Annexure-II.