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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4240
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TH MARCH, 2026
CALL DROPS AND EXTREMELY WEAK SPEED SIGNALS
†4240. SHRI BALYA MAMA SURESH GOPINATH MHATRE:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the number of mobile towers installed in several densely populated areas of
Bhiwandi, Maharashtra in inadequate, resulting in frequent call drops and extremely weak 4G/5G
speed signals;
(b) whether the Government is taking any steps to install additional mobile towers in the said
areas; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) Mobile network coverage in Bhiwandi is currently being served by 5,108 Base Transceiver
Stations (BTS) installed by different Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and 33,468 BTS are
functional in Thane District, Maharashtra which covers Bhiwandi area. As per Performance
Monitoring Report (PMR) published by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for the
month of January 2026 for Access (Wireless) Service, all TSPs are meeting benchmarks related to
call drops in Maharashtra License Service Area which includes Bhiwandi in Thane district.
(b) & (c) To provide mobile coverage in uncovered villages in the country, additional mobile
towers are being installed by Government under Digital Bharat Nidhi Schemes. Under 4G saturation
scheme, two villages of Bhiwandi area are planned to be covered. Out of which, 1 village is already
covered with 4G mobile connectivity. Further, to improve services M/s BSNL has upgraded 37 BTS
sites to 4G technology.
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