Question : CELLULAR TELEPHONES

(a) the number of cellular telephone subscribers in the country, State-wise;

(b) the present pattern of charges for the said telephones;

(c) the number of cities in the country where the cellular telephone facility has been provided, till date, State-wise;

(d) the number of cities where the said facility is proposed to be provided during 2000-2001, State-wise;

(e) whether the Government propose to provide said facility in Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Motihari, Saharasa, Purnea and Bettiah cities of Northern Bihar;

(f) if so, the details thereof and the time by which this facility is likely to be provided in the cities not having this facility; and (g) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to make the cellular telephone available to common man in the rural and urban areas of the country particularly in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Bihar?

MINISTER OF STATE (COMMUNICATIONS) (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)

(a) to (g) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (g) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1740 FOR 6TH MARCH, 2000 REGARDING CELLULAR TELEPHONES.

(a) The number of cellular telephone subscribers in the country, licensed Service Area-wise is given in Annexure-I.

(b) The Cellular operators are presently offering standard tariff package with monthly rental of Rs.475/- and Air Time Charge of Rs. 4/- per minute in Metros, and Rs.500/- and Rs. 4.50 respectively in Circles.

(c) to (g) : Bids were invited for grant of licences to private companies for providing Cellular Mobile Telephone Service throughout the country. Except for two Telecom Circles (namely, Jammu & Kashmir, Andman & Nicobar) where there were no bids, licences have been granted to various private operators throughout the country, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Bihar Telecom Circles. Licences have also been granted to Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) as well as field units of Department of Telecom Services (DTS) for providing Cellular Service in the country.

As per the License Agreement granted to the private cellular operators, atleast 10% of the District Headquarters will be covered in the first year and 50% of the District Headquarters will be covered within three years of effective date of License. The licensees have also been permitted to cover any other town in a District in lieu of the District Headquarters. The choice of District Headquarters/towns to be covered and further expansion beyond 50% District Headquarters/towns lies with the Licensee companies depending on their business decision. There is no requirement of mandatory coverage of rural areas as per the licences granted. A list of cities furnished by Cellular Operators Association of India, service areas-wise where the cellular service is operational by private companies, is given in Annexure-II.

DTS and MTNL shall also be providing Cellular Mobile Telephone Service in different parts of the country. DTS has proposed to provide Cellular Mobile Services initially in few cities of the country as a Pilot Project. The State-wise list of cities proposed under pilot project is given in Annexure-III. The proposed cellular service is expected to be introduced during the year 2000-2001. Based on the experience gained and successful implementation of Pilot Project, the case for introduction of Cellular Mobile Service in other parts of the country on a wider scale shall be considered.

ANNEXURE-I

NUMBER OF CELLULAR MOBILE TELEPHONE SERVICE SUBSCRIBERS IN THE COUNTRY, LICENSED SERVICE AREA -WISE:

(As furnished by COAI)
S.No.	LICENSED SERVICE AREA	NO OF SUBSCRIBERS (DEC.` 99)	(METRO CITY/TELECOM CIRCLES) 
1.	Delhi.	279552

2.	Mumbai	298744

3.	Calcutta	68030

4.	Chennai	47004

5.	Maharashtra	102367
6.	Gujarat	107528

7	Andhra Pradesh	87949

8.	Karnataka	104787

9.	Tamil Nadu	71153
10.	Kerala	80781
11.	Punjab	79672
12.	Haryana	20172
13.	UP-West	48897
14.	UP-East	99696
15.	Rajasthan	15462
16.	Madhya Pradesh	30167
17.	West Bengal	4674
18.	Himachal Pradesh	4761
19.	Bihar	17419
20.	Orissa	8403
21.	Assam	5590
22.	North East	803	All India Total	:	1583611

Sl.No.	Telecom Circles/	Name of Operator	Areas Covered	Number of cities	Metro Cities	covered by each	operator.
1	Andhra Pradesh	J. T. Mobile Ltd.	Hyderabad, Vijaywada,	33	Guntur,Vishakhapatnam,	Nellore, Tirupathi,	Vizag, Uppal,Kattedan,	Hayatnagar,Pattancheru,	Rangareddy, Krishna,	Gannavaram, Kankipadu,	Adavinekkala, Tenali,	Budampadu, Vejendla,	Ponnuru, Chebrolu,	Dagadarthi, Kovur,	Kodur,Mypadu,Mathukur,	Buchireddy Palem,	Chittoor, Chandragiri,	Vadamalapeta, Gajula	Mandyam, Gajuwaka,	Agnampudi.
Andhra Pradesh	Tata Cellular	Hyderabad,Vijaywada,	49	Communication Ltd	Vishakhapatnam,	Rangareddy , Krishna,	West Godavari, East	Godavvari, Guntur,	Machilipatnam, Kakinada,	Eluru, Sangareddy,	Lingampally, Kukatpally,	Uppal, Vanasthalipuram,	Shaumabad, Medchal,	Jeedimefla, Kapra,	Hayatnagar, Ganapavaram,	Hanuman Jn., Tolaprolu,	Ibrahimpatnam, Mangalageri,	Anakapalle, Gajuvaka,	Zellamanchili, Payakaraopeta,	Rajahmundry, Rajanagaram,	Ravulapalem, Tuni,	Prathipadu, Bhimadole,	Bhebrole, Tadepalligudum,	Tanuku, Kovure, Vatluru,	Patancheru, Bolareum,	Aranavara, Nalgonda, Nellore,	Kakinada, Chittoor, Tirupathi.
2	Assam	Reliance Telecom Ltd.	Guwahati	1
3	Bihar	Reliance Telecom Ltd.	Patna, Ranchi, Jamshedpur,	6	Dhanbad, Jharia, Hajipur
4	Calcutta	Modi Telstra Pvt.Ltd.	Fully covered ( Metro )	1	Usha Martin Telecom Ltd.	- do -	1
5	Chennai	RPG Cellular Ltd.	Fully covered ( Metro ),	4	Maraimalai Nagar Export	Promotion Zone, Minzur,	Mahabalipuram
SkyCell Commn. Ltd.	Fully covered (Metro)	1
6	Delhi	Bharti Cellular Ltd.	Fully covered (Metro),	5	Ghaziabad, Faridabad,	Noida and Gurgaon.
Sterling Cellular Ltd.	Fully covered (Metro),	5	Ghaziabad, Faridabad,	Noida and Gurgaon.
7	Gujarat	Birla AT&T Commn. Ltd.	Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar,	71	Kheda, Vadodara, Bharuch,	Surat, Valsad, Rajkot,	Mehsana, Jamnagar, Bareja,	Por, Karjan, Kim, Udhna,	Pipodara, Gandevi, Chikli,	Pardi, Udwada, Dungra,	Nadiad, Anand, Ankleshwar,	Navsari, Silvassa, Vapi,	Adalaj, Kudasan, Koba,	Shertha, Sola, Gota,	Chiloda, Sarkhej, Khodiar,	Aslali, Jetalpur, Uttarsanda,	Boriavi, Matar, Vidhyanagar,	Vadatal, Karamsad, Bhayali,	Jaspur, Fertiliser Nagar,	Kashipura, Palej, Amod, Diva,	Jhaghdia, Kabirwad, Panoli,	Kosamba, Mangrol, Sayan,	Kamrej, Kator, Amroli, Utaran,	Dumas, Saonpalsana, Atul,	Dadra, Dabhel, Linch, Dhinoj,	Panchot, Kherva, Magroda.
Fascel India Ltd.	Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Kheda,	32	Anand, Nadiad, Vadodara,	Bharuch, Surat, Sachin,	Navsari, Billimora, Pardi,	Valsad, Vapi,V.V.Nagar,	Chhatral, Mehsana, Kalol,	Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Sanand,	Padra, Vaghodiya, Borsad,	Ankleshwar, Kim, Palsana,	Gandevi, Chikhali, Daman,	Silvassa, Gandhidham.
8	Haryana	Escotel Mobile	Ambala, Sonepat, Panipat,	19	Communication Ltd.	Karnal, Yamuna Nagar,	Kurukshetra, Shahbad, Kundli,	Rohtak, Hissar, Jagadhari,	Bhiwani, Kalka, Kaithal,	Rohtak, Rewari, Sirsa,	Yamunanagar, Bahadurgarh.
9	Himachal Pradesh	Bharti Telenet Ltd.	Shimla, Solan, Parwanoo,	19	Baddi, Barotiwala, Barog,	Dhalli, Sago, Thoeg, Bhuntar,	Naldhera, Kufri, Kasoli,	Chail, Kandaghat, Bhunter,	Kullu-Manali, Solang, Nala
Reliance Telecom Ltd.	Shimla	1
10	Karnataka	J T Mobiles Ltd.	Bangalore, Mysore,Mangalore,	18	Attibele, Chandrapura,	Nelamangala, Nanjangudu,	Srirangapatna, Ullal,	Panamburu, Kankanadi,	Baikampady, Koloor, Kavur,	Kottar, Urva, Surathkal,	Dakshin Kannad.
Spice Commn. Ltd.	Bangalore, Mangalore,	33	Mysore,Tumkur,Chitradurga,	Davangere, Dharwad, Belgaum,	Hubli, Hassan, Shimoga,	Chikmagalur, Gadag, Renebennur,	Sagar, Harihar, Udupi, Manipal,	Bhatkal, Tiptur, Bhadravathi,	Hoskote, Mandya, Bellary,	Gulbarga, Bidadi, Nelmangala,	Sakleshpur, Kundapur, Gonikoppal,	Nanjangud, Madikeri, Hospet.
11	Kerala	BPL Cellular Limited	Alleppey, Aroor, Calicut,	39	Chavakkad, Chertala,	Chengannur, Changannassery,	Cochin, Guruvayoor, Karunagapalli,	Kannur, Kodungalore, Kollam,	Kottayam, Kunnamkulam,	Malappuram, Manjery,	Muvattupuzha, Palakkad, Palai,	Thalasserry, Thrissur, Thiruvalla,	Trivandrum, Varkala, Aluva,	Ferokhe, Mavelikara, Chalakudi,	Irinjalkuda, Perumbavoor,	Angamali, Kalamassery,	Tripunithura, Kozhikode,	Kondotti, Valapatnam,	Thodupuzha, Kanjikode.
Escotel Mobile	Allapuzha, Aluva, Angamaly,	40	Commun. Ltd.	Attingal, Chalakuddy,	Changanassery, Chengannur,	Chingavanam, Cherthala,	Chavakkad, Ernakulam,	Ettumanur, Feroke, Kalamassery,	Kottayam, Kollam, Kozhikode,	Kannur, Mallapuram, Manjeri,	Pallimukku, Shaktikulangara,	Trivendrum, Thrissur,	Thiruvalla, Tripunithura,	Thalassery, Tirur, Kottackal,	Perinthalmanna, Kunnamkulam,	Kasarkode, Kanjanhad, Kanjikode,	Koddungallore, Kayamkulam,	Mavattupuzha, Perumbavoor,	Palakkad, Thodupuzha.
12	Madhya Pradesh	Reliance Telecom Ltd.	Indore, Dewas, Ujjain,	8	Ratlam, Bhopal, Mandideep,	Pithampur, Raipur	RPG Cellcom Ltd.	Indore, Bhopal, Dewas,	11	Sehore, Ujjain, Mandideep,	Pithampur, Dhar, Betma,	Sagore, Raisen
13	Maharashtra	Birla AT&T Commn.Ltd.	Pune, Nashik, Ahemadnagar,	77	Panjim, Margao, Satara,	Kohlapur, Sangli, Aurangabad,	Alibaug, Jalna, Amaravathi,	Akola, Wardha, Jalgaon,	Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar, Karad,	Ichalkaranji, Lonovala,	Pimpiri, Chinchwad, Mapusa,	Ponda, Chakan, Talegaon,	Pen, Khopoli, Khandala,	Sirur, Supe, Nevasa, Narsapur,	Shirval, Islampur, Jaisinghpur,	Rajgurunagar, Manchar, Sinner,	Shahapur, Ranjangaon,	Chikalthana, Tivim, Porvorim,	Betim, Raibandar, Old Goa,	Banastarim, Kundaim, Goa,	Velha, Agacaim, Cortalim,	Verna, Nuvem, Majorda, Navelim,	Varca, Cavelossim, Mobur, Betul,	Chapora Fort, Vagator Beach,	Anjuna Beach, Baga Beach, Calangute,	Candolim, Aguada Fort, Miramar Beach,	Cabo, Dona Paula, Mormugao, Vasco,	Dabolim, Bogmalo Beach, Colva,	Benaulim.
BPL Cellular Limited	Pune, Nagpur, Nasik, Kohlapur,	23	Goa, Satara, Aurangabad,	Ichalkaranji, Sangli, Miraj,	Jalgaon, Malegaon, Dhule, Jalna,	Bhusawal, Ahmednagar, Amravati,	Akola, Karad, Alibag, Panjim,	Madgaon, Lonavala,
14	Mumbai	BPL Mobile Commn.Ltd.	Fully covered (Metro),	3	Navi Mumbai, Kalyan	Hutchison Max	Fully covered (Metro)	1	Telecom Ltd.
15	North East	Hexacom India Ltd.	None	nil
Reliance Telecom Ltd.	Shillong	1
16	Orissa	Reliance Telecom Ltd.	Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri	3
17	Punjab	Spice Commun. Ltd	Chandigarh,Jalandhar,	51	Ludhiana, Amritsar, Bhatinda,	Patiala, Khanna, Hoshiarpur,	Jagraon, Moga, Sangrur,	Faridkot, Kapurthala, Nawanshahar,	Muktsar,Mohali, Panchkula,	Mandi Gobindgarh, Rajpura,	Goraya, Phagawara, Beas, Batala,	Kotkapura, Nabha, Barnala,	Rampura Phul, Malout, Abohar,	Dhuri, Malerkatla, Banga,	Mahalpur, Derabassi, Zirakpur,	Dhanaula, Phillaula, Kharar,	Kartarpur, Bahadurgarh, Shambu,	Banur, Raya, Dhilwan, Sahnewal,	Sailkhurd, Abul Kharana,	Goniana Mandi, Verka, Rupnagar,	Pathankot.
18	Rajasthan	Hexacom India Ltd.	Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer,	9	Udaipur, Kota, Beawar,	Kishengarh, Makran, Bhilwara
19	Tamil Nadu	BPL Cellular Limited	Bhawani,Coimbatore,Cuddalore,	30	Erode, Gobichettipalayam,	Karur, Kanchipuram, Madurai,	Mettupalayam, Namakkal, Ooty,	Pondicherry, Pollachi,	Rajapalayam, Salem, Sivakasi,	Tirupur, Tiruchirapally,	Tirunelveli, Thanjavur,	Udamalpetai, Vellore, Villipuram,	Virudhunagar, Avinasi, Coonoor,	Tribhuvanai, Udumalpet, Ranipet,	Arasur, 
AIRCEL Limited	Coimbatore, Thudiyalur,	32	Tiruppur, Perianaikenpalayam,	Karamadai, Mettupalayam, Ooty,	Annur, Avinashi, Sulur, Palladam,	Pollachi, Udumalpet, Coonoor,	Kotagiri, Salem, Pallipalayam,	Erode, Bhavani, Komarapalayam,	Sankagiri, Perundurai, Namakkal,	Thiruchengodu, Madurai, Palani,	Trichy, Srirangam, Manachanallur,	Thiruverambur, Thanjavur,	Kulithalai.
20	Uttar Pradesh (E)	Aircel Digilink Ltd	Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad,	5	Varanasi & Badohi 
Koshika Telecom Ltd.	Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi,	17	Allahabad, Bhadohi, Unnao,	Sultanpur, Pratapgarh,	Nawabganj, Mirzapur,	Shuklaganj, Faizabad,	Mughul Sarai, Jaunpur,	Barabanki, Jagadishpur,	Gorakhpur.
21	UttarPradesh (W)	Escotel Mobile	Meerut, Agra, Aligarh,	37	Commns. Ltd.	Moradabad,Rampur, Bareilly,	Bulandsahar, Dehradun,	Mathura, Ferozabad, Hapur,	Saharanpur, MuzzafarNagar,	Haldwani, Rudrapur, Bilaspur,	Bazpur, Kashipur, Haridwar,	Roorkee, Khatauli, Mussourie,	Bijnor, Chandausi, Hatras,	Khurja, Kitcha, Modinagar,	Pilibhit, Rishikesh, Sambhal,	Shamli, Vrindavan Siliguri,	Darjeeling, Durgapur, Asansol,	Ranigunj.
22	West Bengal	Reliance Telecom Ltd.	Siliguri, Darjeeling,	5	Durgapur, Asansol, Ranigunj

ANNEXURE-III
CIRCLE	CITY
Andhra Pradesh	Hyderabad	Vijayawada	Tirupati	Guntur	Vishakapatnam	Amlapuram	Kakinada
Bihar	Patna	Biharsharif	Hazipur	Badh	Arah	Rajgir
Tamil Nadu	Chennai	Madurai	Coimbatore
West Bengal	Calcutta	Haldia