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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4028
ANSWERED ON 12TH AUGUST, 2026
IMPROVE DIGITAL AND TELECOM CONNECTIVITY
4028. SHRI MANI A:
WILL the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) the major initiatives taken by the Government during the last three years to improve
digital and telecom connectivity in Tamil Nadu particularly in rural and underserved areas;
(b) the details of villages, Gram Panchayats and public institutions connected with high-
speed broadband in Tamil Nadu including Dharmapuri district during the said period;
(c) whether the Government has taken steps to improve mobile network coverage and
internet services in Dharmapuri district by installing new telecom infrastructure and if so, the
details thereof;
(d) the measures taken to promote digital services, e-governance, online education and
telemedicine through improved telecom connectivity in Tamil Nadu; and
(e) the further initiatives proposed to provide reliable, high-speed telecom and broadband
services to all rural areas of Tamil Nadu including Dharmapuri district?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) to (e): As of June 2026, out of 16,488 villages in Tamil Nadu (as per the data of
Registrar General of India), 16,479 villages have mobile connectivity, while 16,447 villages
have 4G mobile connectivity.
In Dharmapuri district, out of 487 villages, 485 villages have mobile connectivity, while
478 villages have 4G mobile connectivity. The district-wise details of 4G mobile coverage
status of villages in Tamil Nadu are at Annex.
As on 30.06.2026, 1,36,526 4G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) and 39,522 5G BTSs are
providing connectivity in Tamil Nadu including 2,289 4G BTSs and 637 5G BTSs in
Dharmapuri district.
Mobile coverage for any uncovered inhabited villages is provided by the Telecom Service
Providers (TSPs) based on the techno-commercial viability. Government has approved various
schemes with funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), for expansion of telecom connectivity
through installation of mobile towers in the uncovered rural and remote areas of the country
including Tamil Nadu. Further, the Government has approved the Amended BharatNetProgramme to provide high-speed fiber broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats
(GPs), and non-GP villages on demand basis.
The Government of India has approved the proposal of Government of Tamil Nadu for
Utilization of BharatNet Network under Amended BharatNet Program in the State and
agreement for the same has already been shared with the State Government for signing.
During June 2026, 9,280 GPs, including 210 GPs in Dharmapuri, are operational under
BharatNet in the state of Tamil Nadu. Under the Government-funded 4G Saturation Project, as
on 30.6.2026, 257 mobile towers have been commissioned in the State of Tamil Nadu, covering
308 villages including 11 mobile towers covering 19 villages in Dharmapuri district.Annex
Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4028
to be answered on 12th August, 2026 raised by Hon’ble Member of Parliament regarding
“Improve Digital and Telecom Connectivity”
District-wise details of 4G mobile coverage status of villages in Tamil Nadu:
Total number of villages (as per Number of villages
S. no. District
RGI data of 2019) with 4G Connectivity
1 Ariyalur 214 214
2 Chengalpattu 601 601
3 Coimbatore 256 254
4 Cuddalore 843 843
5 Dharmapuri 487 478
6 Dindigul 370 370
7 Erode 306 306
8 Kallakurichi 582 577
9 Kancheepuram 436 436
10 Kanniyakumari 115 115
11 Karur 175 175
12 Krishnagiri 661 657
13 Madurai 592 591
14 Nagapattinam 494 494
15 Namakkal 427 427
16 Perambalur 159 159
17 Pudukkottai 756 756
18 Ramanathapuram 398 398
19 Ranipet 316 316
20 Salem 616 609
21 Sivaganga 539 538
22 Tenkasi 229 228
23 Thanjavur 810 810
24 The Nilgiris 41 41
25 Theni 101 99
26 Thiruvallur 716 716
27 Thiruvarur 546 546
28 Thoothukkudi 450 450
29 Tiruchirappalli 469 468
30 Tirunelveli 284 284
31 Tirupathur 226 225
32 Tiruppur 309 308
33 Tiruvannamalai 1110 1107
34 Vellore 340 338
35 Viluppuram 921 920
36 Virudhunagar 593 593
Total 16,488 16,447
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