Executive Summary:
The document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2810 regarding mobile and internet connectivity in rural areas, specifically in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu, answered on August 6, 2025. It provides state and district-wise details of mobile coverage and actions taken by the government to improve connectivity. The response details the extent of mobile and 3G/4G internet coverage in the specified regions and outlines government initiatives to expand telecom connectivity.
Key Points / Main Content:
Coverage Details:
* Maharashtra: Out of 43,931 villages, 42,605 have mobile connectivity, and 42,333 have 3G/4G mobile internet connectivity. (See Annexure I for district-wise details)
* Madhya Pradesh: Out of 55,058 villages, 53,575 have mobile connectivity, and 53,358 have 3G/4G mobile internet connectivity. (See Annexure II for district-wise details)
* Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu: All 95 villages have 4G mobile connectivity.
Government Action:
* Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) provide mobile coverage for uncovered inhabited villages based on techno-commercial viability.
* The government is implementing schemes for telecom connectivity expansion through 4G mobile tower installation in rural and remote areas via funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN).
* Till June 2025, 21,748 mobile towers have been commissioned nationwide under DBN funded schemes, including 3,804 in Maharashtra, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and Madhya Pradesh.
Impact Analysis:
Telecom Service Providers (TSPs):
* Impact: TSPs are expected to provide mobile coverage in uncovered villages based on commercial viability.
* Action Required: Assess the commercial viability of providing coverage to remaining uncovered villages.
Citizens in Rural Areas of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu:
* Impact: Improved mobile and internet connectivity through government initiatives and TSP actions.
* Action Required: Utilize available mobile and internet services to enhance socio-economic activities.
Government (Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications):
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing and funding the expansion of telecom connectivity in rural areas.
* Action Required: Continue implementing and monitoring DBN-funded schemes and assess the effectiveness of the installed mobile towers.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Communications: A department of the Government of India responsible for telecommunications and postal services.
Department of Telecommunications: A department within the Ministry of Communications, responsible for telecom policy and licensing.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
Maharashtra: A state in western India, one of the regions with reported poor mobile and internet connectivity in rural areas.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in central India, another region with reported poor mobile and internet connectivity in rural areas.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu: A union territory in India, specifically mentioned in relation to mobile connectivity.
Digital Bharat Nidhi: A fund used by the Government to implement schemes for expansion of telecom connectivity.
Telecom Service Providers: Entities responsible for providing mobile coverage
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2810
ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2025
POOR CONNECTIVITY OF MOBILE AND INTERNET NETWORK IN RURAL AREAS
†2810. SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:
SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM:
DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE:
SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:
SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the poor connectivity of mobile and internet networks
in the rural areas of various States of the Country particularly in Maharashtra, Union Territory of
Dadra Nagar Haveli and Madhya Pradesh;
(b) if so, the details thereof State and district-wise; and
(c) the details of the action taken by the Government along with the proposals under
consideration of the Government to improve the connectivity of mobile and internet networks in the
said areas?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) to (c) In Maharashtra, out of 43,931 villages (as per data of Registrar General of India),
42,605 villages are covered with mobile connectivity and out of these, 42,333 villages have 3G/4G
mobile internet connectivity. District wise details of mobile coverage in villages of Maharashtra are
at Annexure-I.
In Madhya Pradesh, out of 55,058 villages (as per data of Registrar General of India), 53,575
villages are covered with mobile connectivity and out of these, 53,358 villages have 3G/4G mobile
internet connectivity. District wise details of mobile coverage in villages of Madhya Pradesh are at
Annexure-II.
All the 95 villages of Dadra and Nagar Haveli Daman & Diu have 4G Mobile connectivity.
Mobile coverage for any uncovered inhabited villages is provided by the Telecom Service
Providers (TSPs) based on the techno-commercial viability. Government, through funding from
Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), is implementing various schemes for expansion of telecom connectivity
through installation of 4G mobile towers in the rural and remote areas of the country. Till Jun 2025,
21,748 mobile towers have been commissioned in the country under various DBN funded schemes,
including 3,804 mobile towers in Maharashtra, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and Madhya
Pradesh.
1Annexure-I
Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2810
answered on 06th August, 2025 raised by Hon’ble Member of Parliament regarding “Poor
Connectivity of Mobile and Internet Network in Rural Areas”
District wise details of mobile coverage in villages of Maharashtra:
No. of villages having
Total villages (as per No. of villages having
District Internet coverage
RGI data) mobile connectivity
(3G/4G connectivity)
Ahmadnagar 1586 1557 1552
Akola 972 960 953
Amravati 1981 1851 1845
Aurangabad 1361 1356 1350
Bhandara 885 869 859
Bid 1371 1363 1352
Buldana 1438 1408 1403
Chandrapur 1775 1724 1712
Dhule 720 710 707
Gadchiroli 1646 1447 1410
Gondiya 934 898 889
Hingoli 708 705 700
Jalgaon 1524 1503 1502
Jalna 965 965 960
Kolhapur 1250 1213 1210
Latur 943 943 942
Nagpur 1900 1838 1832
Nanded 1663 1638 1626
Nandurbar 960 860 854
Nashik 1928 1836 1834
Osmanabad 739 738 734
Palghar 904 886 886
Parbhani 843 839 835
Pune 1882 1809 1800
Raigarh 2008 1957 1941
Ratnagiri 1538 1402 1394
Sangli 724 720 718
Satara 1771 1711 1709
Sindhudurg 746 697 686
Solapur 1159 1157 1152
Thane 816 805 805
Wardha 1382 1361 1356
Washim 782 780 773
Yavatmal 2127 2099 2052
Total 43,931 42,605 42,333
2Annexure-II
Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2810
answered on 06th August, 2025 raised by Hon’ble Member of Parliament regarding “Poor
Connectivity of Mobile and Internet Network in Rural Areas”
District wise details of mobile coverage in villages of Madhya Pradesh:
No. of villages No. of villages having
Total villages (as
District having mobile Internet coverage
per RGI data)
connectivity (3G/4G connectivity)
Agar-Malwa 499 497 496
Alirajpur 544 512 509
Anuppur 579 551 548
Ashoknagar 880 870 866
Balaghat 1394 1250 1233
Barwani 707 693 691
Betul 1457 1350 1319
Bhind 939 939 938
Bhopal 514 506 505
Burhanpur 265 259 257
Chhatarpur 1238 1207 1203
Chhindwara 2002 1889 1882
Damoh 1216 1188 1186
Datia 663 661 661
Dewas 1128 1112 1104
Dhar 1561 1545 1542
Dindori 928 807 799
Guna 1333 1330 1330
Gwalior 590 574 573
Harda 550 533 529
Hoshangabad 966 919 912
Indore 621 618 616
Jabalpur 1395 1383 1383
Jhabua 821 820 820
Katni 947 933 933
Khandwa (East Nimar) 718 713 711
Khargone (West Nimar) 1409 1372 1365
Mandla 1247 1160 1142
Mandsaur 951 940 939
Morena 847 824 821
Narsimhapur 1058 1041 1040
Neemuch 808 778 771
Niwari 281 281 280
Panna 1035 986 979
Raisen 1486 1450 1446
Rajgarh 1723 1717 1714
Ratlam 1085 1079 1074
Rewa 2711 2701 2695
Sagar 2025 1984 1978
3Satna 1953 1916 1914
Sehore 1082 1062 1061
Seoni 1574 1533 1525
Shahdol 836 812 809
Shajapur 632 632 631
Sheopur 609 545 545
Shivpuri 1355 1338 1338
Sidhi 1055 992 988
Singrauli 761 748 744
Tikamgarh 682 679 678
Ujjain 1107 1107 1106
Umaria 647 604 599
Vidisha 1644 1635 1630
Total 55,058 53,575 53,358
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