50,000 villages yet to get mobile network: Manoj Sinha

Telecom minister Manoj Sinha has told the Lok Sabha that around 50,000 villages across India are yet to get mobile networks, including locations in the Northeast, Naxal-hit states, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

"We have never claimed that mobile network has reached all over the country. There are around 50,000 villages where mobile network has not reached," he said.

The Minister said that he has informed all states to know about the number of villages that still lack mobile connectivity.

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He added that an ambitious project called 'Bharat Net' is being implemented, which would provide 100 mbps broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats, the number of which goes up to 250,000.

As of now, the first phase of this project, which would connect 100,000 GPs, is being implemented.

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"As on March 31, 2017, trenching and ducting has been completed for 11,294 km (4,780 GPs), Optical Fibre Cable has been laid for 12,172 km (4,213 GPs) and 443 GPs have been provided with broadband connectivity," he said.

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