Question : DENSITY OF TELEPHONE LINES TELEPHONES IN RURAL AREAS

(a) the per-capita density of telephone lines and telephones in various States of the country as on date during the current year, State-wise;

(b) the total percentage of increase in this density registered as compared to the last year;

(c) whether there has been per-capita increase in this density in the rural areas;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) the details of rural areas where telephones are available in very less numbers even today;

(f) the reasons therefor;

(g) whether the Government is contemplating to start any subsidized scheme for such areas;

(h) if so, the details thereof, and

(i) if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a) & (b): The details of the state-wise teledensity (number of phones per hundred population) as on December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004, increase in teledensity during this period, and rural teledensity as on December 31, 2004 are given in Annexure.

(c) & (d): Yes, Sir. The all India rural teledensity has increased from 1.49% as on March 31, 2003 to 1.69% as on December 31, 2004.

(e) & (f): The rural teledensity is lower in the states of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, North East and Uttar Pradesh. The teledensity is low because the operators are not keen to provide telecom services due to the non-remunerative nature of the service in rural areas.

(g) to (i) A non-lapsable Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) has been set up to fund telecom services in the rural areas including such areas in these states. The scope of support through USOF, interalia, includes Village Public Telephones (VPTs) Individual household phones, Public Teleinfo Centres (PTICs) etc.

ANNEXURE

STATE-WISE TELEDENSITY INCLUDING RURAL TELEDENSITY AS ON 31.12.2003 AND 31.12.2004

SL. NAME OF STATE TELEDENSITY TELEDENSITY INCREASE IN RURAL
NO. AS ON AS ON TELEDENSITY TELEDNSITY
31.12.2003 31.12.2004 AS ON
31.12.2004
1 Andaman & 11.41 12.42 1.01 8.97
Nicobar
2 Andhra 7.26 9.19 1.93 2.38
Pardesh
3 Assam 1.97 2.71 0.74 0.60
4 Bihar 1.59 2.01 0.42 0.52
5 Chhattisgarh 1.58 1.68 0.10 0.51
6 Gujarat 9.7 12.06 2.36 2.65
7 Haryana 7.63 10.16 2.53 2.68
8 Himachal 9.68 12.52 2.84 6.72
Pardesh
9 Jammu & 2.9 4.72 1.82 0.71
Kashmir
10 Jharkhand 1.97 2.28 0.31 0.47
11 Karnataka 8.92 11.80 2.88 2.47
12 Kerala 13.78 17.85 4.07 9.47
13 Madhya 3.76 4.83 1.07 0.65
Pardesh
14 Maharashtra- 8.64 9.50 0.86 2.55
Mumbai
15 North East 3.05 3.72 0.67 0.54
16 Orissa 2.81 3.65 0.84 1.01
17 Punjab 16.21 21.86 5.65 5.31
18 Rajasthan 4.18 5.78 1.60 1.43
19 Tamilnadu- 8.78 10.91 2.13 2.60
Chennai
20 Uttaranchal 5.06 5.72 0.66 1.60
21 Uttar Pradesh 2.74 3.88 1.14 0.49
22 West Bengal- 2.53 2.78 0.25 1.00
Kolkatta
METRO-CITIES
1 Kolkatta 15.68 23.45 7.77 0
2 Chennai 27.28 46.99 19.71 0
3 Delhi 40.94 50.18 9.24 0
4 Mumbai 28.39 42.97 14.58 0
Overall 6.60 8.59 1.99 1.69
Teledensity