/vnd/media/agency_attachments/bGjnvN2ncYDdhj74yP9p.png)
In the wake of increasing rural teledensity from current level of around 39 to 70 by 2017 and 100 by the year 2020 as per the approved National Telecom Policy — 2012, BSNL will provide connectivity to uncovered villages through Digital Satellite Phone Terminal (DSPT) technology and the technically feasible villages are expected to be provided with Village Public Telephone (VPT) facility by March 2013, informed Milind Deora, Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology in the Lok Sabha.
He further added that over 37,000 villages in the country are yet to have mobile connectivity as per the analysis carried out by Centre for Development of Telematics (CDOT) based on the Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) cell data of March'2011. CDOT is the technical consultant of Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
The minister pointed out that there have been delays in provisioning of mobile services by Universal Service Providers (USPs) under the Shared Mobile Infrastructure Scheme of USOF. Shared Mobile Infrastructure Scheme was launched by USO Fund to provide subsidy support for setting up and managing 7,353 infrastructure sites/ towers in 500 districts spread over 27 states for provision of mobile services in the specified rural and remote areas, where there was no existing fixed wireless or mobile coverage. Villages or cluster of villages having population of 2000 or more and not having mobile coverage were taken into consideration for installation of the tower under this scheme.
Further updating on the rural connectivity, the minister added, "The agreements were signed with the successful bidders in May 2007. As on 31st July 2012, 7,307 towers i.e. about 99.37% had been set up under this scheme. The infrastructure so created is to be shared by three service providers for provision of mobile services. As on 30th June 2012, 15,748 BTSs (Base Transceiver Stations) have been commissioned by Service Providers for provisioning of mobile services."
As per Operating Conditions of the agreements signed with USPs, the USP should provide the mobile services from each of the mobile services sites within two months of the commissioning of the infrastructure site by the IP. Some USPs are not commissioning the BTSs within the prescribed rollout period i.e. within the two months period of commissioning of the infrastructure site and the pace of BTS installation by USPs has been found to be slow. Liquidated Damages (LD) are being imposed on the defaulting USPs for delay in provisioning of mobile services as per the provisions of the agreement signed with them.
"Further, a Committee has also been set up under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Telecom) to consider all aspects of delay in rollout of mobile services under Shared Mobile Infrastructure Scheme of USOF and suggest appropriate action that may be required to be taken in the facts and circumstances of the case. The Committee has submitted its report on 02.11.2011 and the same is under examination," Milind stated.