**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Ministry of Communication's response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 51, addressed on July 23, 2025, concerning BSNL mobile network availability in Rajasthan, particularly in rural areas. The question raised by Shri Amra Ram highlights the disparity in network availability between private telephone companies and BSNL during power outages, leading to potential SIM porting by BSNL consumers.
The Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, addressed the concerns by stating that network functionality depends on factors like media, battery, and power availability. Remedial actions are being taken to address these issues in areas including Rajasthan. The Minister acknowledged that service quality, customer service, and pricing influence consumers' decisions to port between telecom service providers (TSPs), noting that porting is a dynamic process with customers also porting into BSNL.
Regarding tower installation, the response indicates that it is a time-consuming process that can take several weeks, depending on access conditions. In the Sikar area, equipment deliveries began in October 2024, with commissioning following immediately thereafter. Towers requiring satellite connectivity experienced commissioning delays until June 2025, when connectivity was established.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Communications: A ministry of the Government of India.
Department of Telecommunications: A department under the Ministry of Communications, Government of India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the starred question was addressed.
SHRI AMRA RAM: Member of Parliament who raised the starred question.
Rajasthan: A state in India where the BSNL mobile network issues were reported.
BSNL: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, a public sector telecommunications company in India.
SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA: Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region who answered the question.
Sikar district: A district in Rajasthan, India, specifically mentioned regarding tower installation times.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 51
ANSWERED ON 23RD JULY, 2025
BSNL MOBILE NETWORKS
†*51. SHRI AMRA RAM:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) the reasons behind uninterrupted availability of mobile networks of the private telephone
companies in the rural areas of Rajasthan while the BSNL towers in the rural areas of the State fail
to provide mobile networks during power cuts and are able to restore only after the resumption of
power supply;
(b) whether the BSNL consumers port their SIMs to private companies due to the said reason,
if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the department proposes to address the said issue and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the average time taken by the mobile towers to become fully operational after their
installation in Sikar district and the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN
REGION
(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)
(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
1STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS
(a) to (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.51 FOR 23RD JULY, 2025
REGARDING “BSNL MOBILE NETWORKS.”
(a) to (d) The network functioning is dependant on several factors including availability of
media, battery, power/diesel etc. Wherever, such issues exist, including Rajasthan, remedial
action is undertaken. The reason a consumer chooses to port from one TSP to another can be on
account of various factors including level of service quality, customer service, pricing among
others. Porting is a dynamic process and many customers from other operators have ported into
BSNL network as well.
Tower erection work is a time-consuming activity and can span over several weeks
depending upon the access conditions. It is undertaken ahead of commissioning of equipment. In
Sikar area, equipment started arriving from October, 2024 onwards and were commissioned
immediately thereafter. Some towers required satellite connectivity, which was obtained in June,
2025 and such towers were commissioned immediately thereafter.
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