Parliament Question: Mobile network in Uttarakhand

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3060 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19TH MARCH, 2026 MOBILE NETWORK IN UTTARAKHAND 3060 # SHRI MAHENDRA BHATT: Will the Minister of Communications be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has any specific plans to expand mobile network coverage in the hilly and border areas of Uttarakhand; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) the number of villages connected to 4G/5G services so far; (d) whether work has been done under BharatNet or other projects to provide broadband and high-speed internet facilities to remote villages; and (e) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR) (a) to (c) Government through Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) has approved mobile projects to provide 4G mobile connectivity in uncovered villages including hilly and border villages. As on 28.02.2026, 1,231 villages of Uttarakhand have been provided 4G mobile connectivity by commissioning of 557 towers through these projects. As on 28.02.2026, 16,305 of the 16,456 villages in Uttarakhand (as per data of Registrar General of India of November 2019) are covered by 4G mobile services, while 4,729 villages are covered by 5G mobile services. (d) & (e) Government has implemented the BharatNet project in phases to provide Broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs). As on 28.02.2026, 2,14,921 GPs have been made service ready in the country, including 1,993 GPs in Uttarakhand. Further, the Government has approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) to provide ring based connectivity to approximately 2.64 lakh GPs and connectivity to 3.8 lakh non-GP villages on demand basis. ***** 1