The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs 26,316 crore investment to provide network connectivity in 25,000 remote villages across India, said Ashwini Vaishnaw, the minister for telecom, on Wednesday, July 27. The decision was taken on the basis of a survey that revealed that India has 24,680 villages that do not have network connectivity.
“We have taken another big decision today, keeping in line with PM Narendra Modi’s promise to take every scheme to its saturation level. This means that we have to provide complete coverage of every task that is being taken up. Digital India and telecom are two major elements of this vision,” Vaishnaw said on the day during a press briefing after the Cabinet meeting.
“During the past seven to eight months using Gatishkati scheme framework, satellite imaging and data from telecom service providers, the government has prepared a detailed survey. The survey showed that there are nearly 25,000 villages in the country that still need the provision of network connectivity. Therefore today, the Cabinet approved a total of Rs 26,316 crore investment to provide network connectivity in these villages,” he said.
This package will be known as Saturation Coverage, the minister told the media. “The Saturation Package will cover each and every village of India. This will be in line with the government’s vision of Sab ka saath, Sab ka vikas policy,” he said.
The project has a provision to include 20 per cent additional villages on account of rehabilitation, new-settlements, withdrawal of services by existing operators etc
Along with this, there are around 6,279 villages that still have 2G or 3G connections and are not covered by public sector telecom company BSNL’s upgradation. “These villages will also be included in the 4G upgradation package announced today. This means that a total of 31,000 villages will be getting 4G upgradation, as per the Cabinet’s approval. The programme will use 4G technology stack made in India,” Vaishnaw said.
The project will be executed by BSNL using Atmanirbhar Bharat’s 4G technology stack and will be funded through Universal Service Obligation Fund. The project cost of Rs 26,316 crore includes capex and 5-year opex.
BSNL is already in process of deployment of Atmanirbhar 4G technology stack, which will be deployed in this project as well, the Cabinet said in a press release released later in the day.
“The project is a significant step towards the vision of the Government to provide mobile connectivity in rural areas. This project will promote delivery of various e-governance services, banking services, tele-medicine, tele-education etc. through mobile broadband and generate employment in rural areas,” said the press release.
It must be noted in this regard that last year, the government approved a project for providing 4G mobile services in 7,287 uncovered villages in 44 aspirational districts across five states.
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