Question : TELEPHONE CONNECTIVITY

(a) the total number of private telecom operators under various categories at present and the details of their respective entry year in the country;

(b) the percentage of market share of these private telecom operators compared to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited in urban and rural segments in the country;

(c) whether these telecom operators had given any commitment to the Government to provide services in rural areas;

(d) if so, the number of telecom operators which have fulfilled the obligation to connect rural areas/villages; and

(e) the number of rural areas/villages that have been provided telephone connectivity by each of the private telecom operators so far, State-wise?

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) The details of present private telecom service providers in respect of access services are attached as Annexure-I.

(b) The details as on 31.05.2014 are as under:

 
	% share of Bharat Sanchar	% share of Private Telecom Operators	Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and	Mahanagar Telephone	Nigam Ltd(MTNL) Urban	14.3	85.65 Rural	9.66	90.34