On December 10th, 2025, Dr. Amar Singh posed a series of questions regarding mobile network coverage in rural and remote areas, specifically: whether coverage depends on techno-commercial viability, the implications for strategically important but economically unviable villages, mechanisms for ensuring coverage regardless of commercial viability, consideration of universal mobile connectivity as a basic service, and alternative funding/subsidy mechanisms.
Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, answered that mobile services are provided by Telecom Service Providers based on techno-commercial viability. The Government has been undertaking various schemes through Digital Bharat Nidhi for 4G Mobile coverage to inhabited uncovered villages with details as follows:
* 4G Saturation
* 7287 uncovered villages of Aspirational Districts
* Left Wing Extremism Phase-II
* Left Wing Extremism Phase-I Upgradation
* Uncovered Villages of Arunachal Pradesh and 2 Districts of Assam
* Uncovered Villages of Meghalaya and National Highway (NH)
* 502 Uncovered villages of Aspirational Districts
* 354 Uncovered Village
* Uncovered villages of Lakshadweep Islands
* Uncovered villages and NH of Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Key Entities Referenced
Digital Bharat Nidhi: A scheme to provide 4G mobile coverage to inhabited uncovered villages.
Ministry of Communications: The government ministry responsible for mobile network coverage, as indicated by the question posed to the minister.
4G Saturation: A scheme for achieving 4G saturation.
Aspirational Districts: Districts targeted for uncovered village mobile connectivity schemes.
Left Wing Extremism Phase-II: A scheme for mobile coverage in Left Wing Extremism affected areas.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1718
ANSWERED ON 10TH DECEMBER, 2025
MOBILE NETWORK COVERAGE IN RURAL AND REMOTE AREAS
1718. DR. AMAR SINGH:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether mobile network coverage in rural and remote areas depends on techno-commercial
viability assessments by Telecom Service Providers;
(b) if so, whether this approach leaves economically unviable but strategically important villages
without connectivity;
(c) the details of the mechanisms in place to ensure that mobile coverage is provided to all
inhabited villages regardless of commercial viability;
(d) whether the Government considers universal mobile connectivity as a basic service that
should be guaranteed independent of commercial considerations and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether any alternative funding or subsidy mechanisms are available for connecting villages
deemed commercially unviable by private telecom operators and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) to (e) Mobile services in an area are provided by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)
based on their techno-commercial viability. The Government has been undertaking various schemes
through Digital Bharat Nidhi for 4G Mobile coverage to inhabited uncovered villages with details as
below:
S.No. Scheme
1 4G Saturation
2 7287 uncovered villages of Aspirational Districts
3 Left Wing Extremism Phase-II
4 Left Wing Extremism Phase-I Upgradation
5 Uncovered Villages of Arunachal Pradesh and 2 Districts of Assam
6 Uncovered Villages of Meghalaya and National Highway (NH)
7 502 Uncovered villages of Aspirational Districts
8 354 Uncovered Village
9 Uncovered villages of Lakshadweep Islands
10 Uncovered villages and NH of Andaman & Nicobar Islands
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