The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has been regularly monitoring the performance of telecom service providers against Quality-of-Service (QoS) benchmarks, and according to the latest performance monitoring report (PMR), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has met the benchmark for most of the network-related QoS parameters in the North-East and Assam License Service Areas (LSAs) for the period covering the last four quarters (from December 2023 to September 2024).
In a written response in the Lok Sabha today, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, highlighted the government’s efforts to improve telecom infrastructure in the North-East Region (NER). Several initiatives are currently underway under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (formerly known as the Universal Service Obligation Fund, or USOF), aimed at expanding mobile and broadband connectivity in underserved areas of the country.
These initiatives include:
4G Saturation Project: This project aims to provide 4G mobile services to villages that currently lack coverage, ensuring that no village is left behind in the digital transformation.
Border Out Posts (BoP) / Border Intelligence Posts (BIP) Project: This project will ensure the provision of 4G-based mobile services at critical BoP/BIP locations along India’s borders.
Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP): Focused on improving mobile connectivity in the North-East Region, this plan aims to provide mobile coverage in uncovered villages and along major National Highways.
BharatNet Project: This is a phased initiative to extend broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats and villages across India, with services available on demand.
Dr. Sekhar emphasized that these efforts are part of the government’s ongoing commitment to improving telecom infrastructure and providing robust connectivity to every corner of the country, particularly in the remote and border areas.
With BSNL meeting the QoS benchmarks and the government’s strategic initiatives in place, the future of telecom connectivity in the North-East and Assam LSAs looks promising, as the region continues to benefit from improved mobile and broadband services.
