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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2268
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH MARCH, 2026
TELECOM CONNECTIVITY IN ODISHA
2268 SMT. SULATA DEO:
Will the Minister of Communications be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government has conducted a gap analysis of telecom connectivity in aspirational
and tribal districts of Odisha; and
(b) if so, the district-wise details thereof and the steps taken to bridge the gaps?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) & (b) The Licensed Service Areas (LSAs), the field units of Department of
Telecommunications regularly analyses mobile network coverage data to identify telecom
connectivity gaps in the Country, including aspirational and tribal districts of Odisha. As of January
2026, out of 51,176 villages in the state of Odisha, 49,939 villages are covered with mobile
connectivity. District-wise mobile coverage status in the State of Odisha is at Annexure.
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,
remote and border areas of the country including the State of Odisha. As of February 2026, 3,584
sites have been commissioned in the State of Odisha under DBN funded mobile schemes, providing
mobile coverage to 5,289 villages/locations.
1Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) and (b) of Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2268
to be answered on 12th March, 2026 raised by Hon’ble Member of Parliament regarding
“Telecom Connectivity in Odisha”
District-wise mobile coverage status in the State of Odisha:
Total No. of villages (as per RGI No. of villages having mobile
District
data) connectivity
Anugul 1887 1849
Balangir 1777 1771
Baleshwar 2925 2924
Bargarh 1195 1191
Baudh 1182 1137
Bhadrak 1295 1290
Cuttack 1970 1956
Debagarh 835 782
Dhenkanal 1199 1195
Gajapati 1609 1553
Ganjam 3204 3100
Jagatsinghapur 1297 1295
Jajapur 1826 1804
Jharsuguda 354 354
Kalahandi 2274 2178
Kandhamal 2578 2455
Kendrapara 1553 1538
Kendujhar 2105 2073
Khordha 1541 1523
Koraput 2047 1959
Malkangiri 1036 924
Mayurbhanj 3940 3865
Nabarangapur 880 875
Nayagarh 1659 1565
Nuapada 663 652
Puri 1702 1696
Rayagada 2671 2526
Sambalpur 1256 1227
Subarnapur 951 941
Sundargarh 1765 1741
Total 51,176 49,939
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