Question : Optical Fibre and Mobile Connectivity

(a) whether the Government has undertaken to connect all the villages of the country with optical fibre in the coming 1000 days;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the quantum of funds going to be spend on it, State/UT-wise including Maharashtra;

(c) whether the Government has stopped using Chinese 4G equipment and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government is going to provide mobile connectivity in villages which are located in strategic and border areas; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the timeline by which the said connectivity is likely to be provided in the aforesaid areas?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) It is planned to cover nearly six lakh villages in the country in 1000 days from 15.08.2020.

(b) Details in this regard are being worked out.

(c) Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), licensed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), provide 4G services subject to license conditions related to security being fulfilled. For public procurement including 4G equipment, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has inserted Rule 144 (xi) in the General Financial Rules (GFR), 2017 as per OM No. 6/18/2019-PPD dated 23.07.2020.

(d) & (e) The uncovered villages are being provided mobile services in a phased manner by the Government and Telecom Services Provider (TSPs) in the villages, including those located in strategic and border areas. The following schemes have been taken up with USOF funding:

(i) 354 Uncovered Villages Scheme : Under this scheme border villages of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and other priority areas are to be covered.

(ii) Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for mobile connectivity in the North Eastern Region.

(iii) Schemes for providing mobile services in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas and Aspirational Districts.
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