Question : G SERVICES OF BSNL

(a) whether the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has commenced its 3G services in all the States/licence service areas of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof, circle-wise including Maharashtra;

(c) whether the 3G services launched are running satisfactorily;

(d) if not, the action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) the time by which the 3G services are likely to be launched in every district of the country?

THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY(SHRI KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) to (e) 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 (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 125 FOR 30.11.2011 REGARDING “3G SERVICES OF BSNL”

(a) & (b) Madam, BSNL provides telecom services in all license services areas of the country except Delhi and Mumbai where Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) provides the telecom services. BSNL has commenced its 3G services in all its license service areas. The circle wise details regarding number of cities having BSNL’s 3G services are at Annexure-I.

(c) & (d) The 3G services launched by BSNL are running, in general, satisfactorily. Though Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has not specified any quality of service norms particularly for 3G Mobile Services, BSNL is, in general meeting the Quality of Service bench marks prescribed by TRAI for mobile services.

(e) Almost every district headquarter of BSNL’s network operation area is already covered with 3G services except 3 districts in Punjab Circle, 6 districts in North East-I circle, 7 districts in Jammu & Kashmir Circle, 2 districts in Assam Circle, 1 district in Karnataka circle, 1 district in Andaman & Nicobar circle and 3 districts in Uttar Pradesh (West) circle, which BSNL intends to cover progressively based on techno-commercial considerations.