**Policy Summary: Digital Connectivity in Northeastern Region, India**
This document summarizes the current status of digital connectivity in the Northeastern Region of India as of May 31, 2025, in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1787.
**Current Status:**
* Out of 45,934 villages (as per the Registrar General of India data, Nov 2019), 41,933 villages have mobile connectivity (2G/3G/4G).
* 40,399 villages have 4G mobile connectivity.
* State-wise breakdown of mobile and 4G coverage is provided in Annexure I.
**BharatNet Project:**
* The BharatNet project aims to provide broadband connectivity (WiFi Hotspots, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections, etc.) to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages on demand basis.
* As of June 2025, 6,355 Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the Northeastern Region have been made service-ready under the BharatNet project.
**Measures to Address Connectivity Challenges:**
* The Government is implementing schemes under the Digital Bharat Nidhi for expanding internet facilities via 4G mobile tower installation in rural and remote areas under the 4G saturation project.
* The Government is providing support of Rs. 3.25 Cr (excluding taxes) to BSNL for hiring 10 Gbps International Bandwidth for Internet Connectivity to ensure high-quality, high-speed internet access to the States of the North Eastern Region.
**Annexure I: Mobile Coverage Status as of May 31, 2025**
| S.no. | State/UT | Total no. of villages as per RGI data of Nov'2019 | No. of villages having Mobile coverage | No. of villages having 4G coverage |
|-------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| 1. | Arunachal Pradesh | 5993 | 4229 | 3065 |
| 2. | Assam | 26429 | 26007 | 25934 |
| 3. | Manipur | 2612 | 2216 | 2124 |
| 4. | Meghalaya | 7100 | 6347 | 6320 |
| 5. | Mizoram | 867 | 740 | 678 |
| 6. | Nagaland | 1535 | 1234 | 1211 |
| 7. | Sikkim | 461 | 453 | 442 |
| 8. | Tripura | 937 | 707 | 625 |
| | **Total** | **45934** | **41933** | **40399** |
Key Entities Referenced
NorthEastern Region: A region of India consisting of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. It is the focus area of the policy regarding digital connectivity.
BharatNet project: A project to provide broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages in India, including the NorthEastern Region.
Digital Bharat Nidhi: A fund used by the Government of India to expand internet facilities, including the installation of 4G mobile towers in rural and remote areas.
BSNL: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, a government-owned telecommunications company, receiving support for hiring international bandwidth for internet connectivity in the North Eastern Region.
Arunachal Pradesh: A state in the NorthEastern Region of India.
Assam: A state in the NorthEastern Region of India.
Manipur: A state in the NorthEastern Region of India.
Meghalaya: A state in the NorthEastern Region of India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1787
ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2025
DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY IN NORTH-EASTERN REGION
1787. DR. RICKY ANDREW J SYNGKON:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of digital connectivity in North-Eastern States including the number of
villages with access to high-speed internet;
(b) the progress made under the Bharat-Net project in the region; and
(c) the measures being taken to address connectivity challenges in remote and hilly areas of
North-East India?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) As on 31.05.2025, out of 45,934 villages (villages data as per Registrar General of India, as
of Nov 2019) in North-Eastern Region, 41,933 villages are having mobile connectivity (2G/3G/4G),
out of which 40,399 are having 4G mobile connectivity. The State-wise coverage status is given in
Annexure-I:
(b) BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband
connectivity such as Wi-Fi Hotspots, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections etc. to all the Gram
Panchayats (GPs) and villages on demand basis. As of June, 2025, 6355 Gram Panchayats (GPs)
have been made service ready under BharatNet project in North-Eastern Region.
(c) The Government is implementing various schemes under Digital Bharat Nidhi for expansion
of internet facilities through installation of 4G mobile towers in the rural and remote areas of the
country under 4G saturation project. In addition, Government is providing support of Rs.3.25 Cr
(excluding taxes) to BSNL for hiring of 10 Gbps International Bandwidth for Internet Connectivity
to ensure availability of high quality and high-speed internet access to the States of North Eastern
Region of the country.
1Annexure-I
Annexure-I referred to in Part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1787 for answer
on 30.07.2025
Mobile coverage status as on 31.05.2025
Total no. of villages No. of villages No. of villages
S.no. State/UT (as per RGI data as having Mobile having 4G
of Nov'2019) coverage coverage
1. Arunachal Pradesh 5993 4229 3065
2. Assam 26429 26007 25934
3. Manipur 2612 2216 2124
4. Meghalaya 7100 6347 6320
5. Mizoram 867 740 678
6. Nagaland 1535 1234 1211
7. Sikkim 461 453 442
8. Tripura 937 707 625
Total 45934 41933 40399
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