Question : MONTHLY RATE OF BASIC PHONES

(a) whether the monthly rent of basic phones in all districts and rural areas in the States particularly Uttar Pradesh is being charged at a par with the urban areas;

(b) if so, the facts and the reasons thereof;

(c) whether there is shortage of staff to ensure smooth telephone services in rural areas in comparison to urban areas;

(d) if so, whether the Government proposes to increase the strength of regular employees in rural areas;

(e) whether the Government is contemplating to reduce the monthly rent of basic phones in rural areas;

(f) if so, the time by when it is likely to be implemented; and

(g) if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a) No, Sir.

(b) Does not arise in view of (a) above.

(c) Sir, there is unwillingness of staff to move to rural areas due to shortage of required amenities there. However, telephone services are run smoothly in rural areas by computerization of fault reporting system, conversion of SBM and 256P RAX exchanges to RSUs and AN RAXs, introduction of WLL services and grouping of rural exchanges.

(d) Does not arise in view of (c) above.

(e) to (g) There is no proposal to reduce rental in rural areas since BSNL`s present telecom tariff for subscribers in rural areas is highly subsidized and is lower than urban areas.