Question : SETTING UP OF SIGNAL TOWERS

(a) whether the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has installed signal towers in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Gujarat;

(c) whether the above signal towers are enough to meet the requirement of telephone and mobile services in the country;

(d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;

(e) whether the Government has made any effort to ensure that the above signal towers are not causing inconvenience to the common people;

(f) if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SACHIN PILOT)

(a) & (b) Yes Madam, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has installed signal towers in the country including Gujarat. The circle-wise details are given in the Annexure.

(c) & (d) In view of dynamic network situation, BSNL keeps progressively adding new towers on the basis of various factors like population, existing customer base, expected customer base, mobile coverage, mobile congestion, available/planned equipment etc. to meet the requirement.

(e) to (g) BSNL is complying with the directive/guidelines issued by Government (Department of Telecommunications) to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the common people.