**Executive Summary**
This document answers Unstarred Question No. 805 in Lok Sabha regarding 4G mobile connectivity gaps under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) in Koraput and Rayagada, Odisha. The question was set to be answered on February 4th, 2026, by the Minister of Communications. It provides details on the current status of 4G tower implementation, areas lacking connectivity, reasons for delays, and the roadmap for achieving complete mobile data coverage.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **4G Mobile Service Provision:** The Government through Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) is providing 4G mobile services to uncovered villages, including those in Koraput and Rayagada districts of Odisha.
* **Tower Implementation Status (as of 31.12.2025):**
* **Koraput District:** 386 out of 459 planned towers are operational.
* **Rayagada District:** 546 out of 700 planned towers are operational.
* **Villages Lacking Mobile Connectivity (as of 31.12.2025):**
* **Koraput District:** 89 out of 2047 villages lack mobile connectivity.
* **Rayagada District:** 149 out of 2671 villages lack mobile connectivity.
* A block-wise list can be found on the DBN website (https://usof.gov.in/en/home).
* **Reasons for Implementation Delays:** Delays have been caused by unavailability of road access, delays in land allotment, forest, wildlife, and right-of-way permissions.
* **Action Against Implementing Agencies:** Penal action has been taken against implementing agencies for delays in executing the schemes, as per agreement terms.
* **5G Mobile Services:** Telecom service providers are responsible for rolling out 5G mobile services based on techno-commercial considerations.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Residents of Koraput and Rayagada Districts (Especially in Tribal Areas)**
* **Impact:** Improved access to 4G mobile connectivity, addressing the current gaps and enabling better data access. Eventual access to 5G services.
* **Action Required:** None specified in the document, other than to use the provided mobile network when it becomes available.
**Stakeholder: Implementing Agencies**
* **Impact:** Subject to penal actions for delays in execution.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to agreement terms and conditions, avoid delays in execution, and potentially address the reasons for past delays.
**Stakeholder: Telecom Service Providers**
* **Impact:** Responsible for rolling out 5G services based on techno-commercial considerations.
* **Action Required:** Evaluate the feasibility and plan the roll-out of 5G services in the region, based on their individual business plans.
Key Entities Referenced
Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF): Fund used for 4G mobile connectivity in Koraput and Rayagada districts of Odisha.
Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN): Scheme to provide 4G mobile services to uncovered villages, including in Koraput and Rayagada Districts of Odisha.
Koraput: District in Odisha where 4G mobile connectivity is being addressed.
Rayagada: District in Odisha where 4G mobile connectivity is being addressed.
Odisha: State in India where the districts of Koraput and Rayagada are located and where the 4G connectivity project is focused.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 805
TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH FEBRUARY, 2026
4G MOBILE CONNECTIVITY GAPS UNDER USOF IN KORAPUT AND RAYAGADA,
ODISHA
805. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) the block-wise list of mobile towers approved under the Universal Service Obligation Fund
(USOF) for 4G mobile connectivity in Koraput and Rayagada districts of Odisha, along with the date
of approval, stage of execution and expected date of commissioning for each site;
(b) the list of villages and habitations in these two tribal districts that still lack reliable mobile
data connectivity, including areas where only voice calls are available but 4G internet is non-
functional;
(c) the reasons for the slow implementation, repeated delays and discontinuation of several
approved tower sites, and whether responsibility has been fixed on implementing agencies and
telecom service providers for such failures; and
(d) the time-bound roadmap to achieve 100 per cent mobile data coverage in Koraput, Rayagada
and to extend 5G connectivity to all villages so that tribal, remote communities are not excluded from
Digital India?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) to (d) Government through Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) has undertaken several schemes to
provide 4G mobile services to the uncovered villages across the country, including the villages in
Koraput and Rayagada Districts of Odisha.
Under DBN schemes, after physical survey undertaken by the implementing agencies, out of
459 towers planned, 386 towers have been made on air in Koraput district, and out of 700 towers
planned, 546 towers have been made on air in Rayagada district respectively, as on 31.12.2025.
The block-wise list of 89 out of 2047 villages and 149 out of 2671 villages lacking mobile
connectivity in Koraput and Rayagada districts respectively as on 31.12.2025 is available on DBN
website (https://usof.gov.in/en/home)
Execution of some sites has faced delays due to factors such as unavailability of road access,
delay in land allotment, forest, wildlife and right of way permission etc. The villages found to have
mobile connectivity during survey have been descoped from the DBN schemes. Penal action has
been taken against the implementing agencies for delays in execution of the schemes as per the terms
and condition of the Agreement.
5G mobile services are rolled out by the telecom service providers themselves on techno-
commercial consideration.
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