**Executive Summary**
This document is the answered Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 650 addressed on December 3, 2025, regarding the revival of BSNL in Amritsar and Punjab's border belt. It outlines measures being taken to improve telecom services in the region, including the deployment of 4G sites and fiber connectivity. Key dates include November 15 and 17, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **BSNL Revival Initiatives**
* BSNL is deploying one lakh indigenously developed 4G sites for pan India deployment.
* As of November 15, 2025, 97,208 sites have been installed and 93,859 4G sites are ON-Air.
* In Punjab, 4,012 4G BTS have been installed, including 903 in border districts and 291 in Amritsar.
* **Optical Fiber Connectivity**
* As of November 17, 2025, 12,668 Gram Panchayats (GPs) in Punjab have been connected with Optical Fiber Connectivity (OFC) under the Bharat Net Project.
* **Amended Bharatnet Program**
* Approved by the Union Cabinet on August 4, 2023, with an outlay of Rs. 1.39 Lakh Crores.
* Aims to extend fiber to all Gram Panchayats and villages on demand basis.
* Includes provisions for 1.5 Crores high-speed FTTH broadband connections in rural areas.
* BSNL is the Project Management Agency for this scheme.
* **Network Coverage Expansion**
* The Government is implementing various schemes to expand network coverage in border and remote areas, including 4G Saturation Scheme, Border Out Post (BOP)/Border Intelligence Post (BIP).
* Details of these schemes are available on [https://usof.gov.in](https://usof.gov.in).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: BSNL**
* **Impact:** BSNL is positioned as a key player in improving telecom services and expanding network coverage in Punjab, particularly in border areas.
* **Action Required:** Continue the deployment of 4G sites, manage the Bharatnet project, and implement various schemes to expand network coverage.
**Stakeholder: Residents of Punjab, especially in Border Areas**
* **Impact:** Improved telecommunications infrastructure, including 4G services and fiber connectivity, leading to enhanced digital inclusion, security communication, and economic activity.
* **Action Required:** No direct action required, but will benefit from the improved services as they are rolled out.
**Stakeholder: Gram Panchayats in Punjab**
* **Impact:** Increased access to high-speed FTTH broadband connections.
* **Action Required:** Prepare for and facilitate the implementation of fiber connectivity to enable access to high-speed broadband.
Key Entities Referenced
BSNL: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, central to the policy concerning its revival and infrastructure upgrade.
Punjab: The state where BSNL's revival and telecommunications infrastructure are the focus of the policy.
Bharat Net Project: A project aimed at providing optical fiber connectivity to Gram Panchayats.
4G Saturation Scheme: A scheme focused on expanding 4G network coverage.
Department of Telecommunications: The government department responsible for the policy related to BSNL's revival.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 650
ANSWERED ON 3RD DECEMBER, 2025
REVIVAL OF BSNL IN AMRITSAR AND PUNJAB’S BORDER BELT
650. SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government make BSNL, once again the backbone of telecommunications in Punjab,
especially in border districts like Amritsar, is rapidly declining due to poor infrastructure, weak maintenance,
staff shortage and lack of fiber and dish connectivity, while private operators are unable to fully penetrate
remote and sensitive areas;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is making any comprehensive revival plan for BSNL in Punjab, including
upgrading tower infrastructure, improving fiber connectivity, enhancing local employment and ensuring
reliable services in border villages where national security and connectivity are both crucial;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government consider a special package for BSNL revival in border areas, given that it
is the only operator with historical reach and potential to restore digital inclusion, security communication
and economic activity in such regions; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
.
(a) to (f) To improve the telecom services, BSNL is rolling out one lakh indigenously developed 4G
sites for pan India deployment. As on 15.11.2025, total 97,208 sites have been installed and 93,859 4G sites
are ON-Air. In Punjab, BSNL has installed total 4,012 4G BTS including 903 4G BTS in border Districts and
291 4G BTS in Amritsar. Under Bharat Net Project as on 17.11.2025, total 12,668 Gram Panchayats (GPs) of
Punjab have been connected with Optical Fiber Connectivity (OFC).
Further, Amended Bharatnet program has been approved by the Union Cabinet on 04.08.2023 with
an outlay of Rs. 1.39 Lakh Crores to extend fiber to all Gram Panchayats and villages on demand basis,
including provisions for 1.5 Crores high speed FTTH broadband connections in rural areas. BSNL is the
Project Management Agency for this scheme.
To further expand the network coverage in Border and remote areas, the Government is implementing
various schemes such as 4G Saturation Scheme, Border Out Post (BOP)/Border Intelligence Post (BIP) etc.
The details of these schemes are available on https://usof.gov.in.
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