According to the latest “India Telecom Service Performance Indicators” released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on 10 January 2022, there were 336.60 million internet users in rural and 497.69 million urban areas of the country at the end of September. , 2021.
The government has taken the following steps to strengthen digital outreach in the country:
•Mobile/Broadband/Internet services are being provided in phases by the Government and Telecommunication Service Providers (TSPs) in uncovered villages in the country. The government with funding from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) has schemes namely Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for North East Region, Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (LWE) schemes, Aspirational Districts Schemes, Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for Islands etc. to expand mobile connectivity by setting up towers in uncovered villages of the country.
•The BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. The infrastructure created under the BharatNet project can be used by service providers for providing broadband/internet services. BharatNet’s coverage has recently been extended to all non-GP populated villages in the country.
•The National Broadband Mission (NBM) was launched on 17 December 2019 with a vision to rapidly grow digital communications infrastructure, bridge the digital divide, facilitate digital empowerment and inclusion and provide affordable and universal access to broadband for all.
•The Prime Minister’s Wireless Access Interface (PM-WANI) framework was introduced to increase the spread of broadband services over public Wifi. The PM-WANI framework enables broadband delivery through a distributed architecture and separation of functions. Under this framework, entities are not required to take any license or pay any fees to the government. Details are available on the website pmwani.gov.in
•Licensed service providers provide broadband services in urban and rural areas of the country as per their business plans. However, for the expansion of broadband services in rural and remote areas of the country, there are various government programs with support from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) under which the total funds allocated/disbursed for the last 5 years and the current year till February 2022. is about 31529 Cr.
•Apart from the BharatNet project in Rajasthan, the government has the following schemes under USOF to improve internet/broadband connectivity in the state:
•Providing mobile connectivity in 354 uncovered villages, border area and other priority areas of various states including Rajasthan.Providing 4G mobile connectivity in 502 uncovered villages of Aspirational Districts in four states including Rajasthan.
This information was given today by Minister of State for Communications Shri Devusinh Chauhan in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
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