Question : 4G Services

(a) whether some private telecom operators are banking on 4G services to tap the rapid growth in data market and the telecom PSUs;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the telecom PSUs, the BSNL and MTNL, also proposes to introduce the 4G services in their service areas;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) if so, whether the Union Government is planning to partner with other parties viz., private local players to roll out FTTH and Wi-Fi services in a full-fledged manner and if so, the steps taken in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS &
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) & (b) In order to provide the technologically advanced services and tap the rapid growth in data market, some private telecom operators have launched 4G services. As reported by various Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), the details of launch of 4G services are as follows:

(i) M/s Bharti Airtel Limited has launched its 4G services in all service areas across the country except Assam and Jammu & Kashmir service area and is providing 4G services in 1900 census towns and 10,000 villages.
(ii) M/s Idea Cellular Limited has launched its 4G services in 11 service areas namely Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, North East, Odisha, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.




(iii) M/s Reliance Communications Limited/ M/s Reliance Telecom Limited has launched its 4G services in all service areas across the country except Jammu & Kashmir service area and is providing 4G services in 519 District Headquarters and 4350 towns.
(iv) M/s Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited has launched its 4G services in all service areas across the country and is providing 4G services in 18000 cities and towns and over 2 lakh villages.
(v) M/s Vodafone India Limited has launched its 4G services in 9 service areas namely Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Kolkata, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh (East) and West Bengal and is providing 4G services in 734 towns/ villages.

(c) & (d) BSNL plans to upgrade its network for 4G GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) services through tender. Based on the outcome of the tender, tentatively BSNL may launch its 4G services progressively during next financial year (2017-18). Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) has no immediate plans for launching 4G services, as it has already surrendered 2300 MHz band spectrum.

(e): The telecom services including FTTH and Wi-Fi services are presently being provided by the Licensed Service Providers and as per their business plan/ requirement they partner with other parties viz. local players to provide their services.

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