BSNL, the state run telecom operator in India is in talks to erect 19,000 mobile towers to connect the rural population. Planned in two phases, the teleco is looking forward to extend its mobile connectivity to nearly all villages in the country.
The government will initially connect around 5000 blocks in the country immediately after the spectrum is allocated. All villages that come within a radius of 10 km of the block headquarter can enjoy this connectivity. With a considerable increase in the global use of mobile phones, the move should benefit schools, public health centres, village administrative bodies (panchayats) and the community service centres (CSCs) meant to provide e-governance and data services to rural areas.
India’s Telecommunications Minister A. Raja addressed a parliamentary committee which included members of the Consultative Committee of Parliament attached to his ministry. He announced, “Some 8,000 mobile towers will be erected by the end of this year under Phase-I of the shared mobile infrastructure scheme. The government is giving the highest priority to extending telecom facilities to rural and remote areas of the country.”
The minister mentioned that the second phase should see the erection of another 11,000 towers. In addition to this BSNL is also planning to procure 93 million GSM lines that should provide 3G mobile services for people in villages with a population of more than 1,000. This expansion will make available a range of value added services such as mobile TV, mobile broadband, MMS, location based services, mobile tracking systems etc to the rural areas. In addition BSNL will also provide wireless broadband services Wi-Max via the franchisee route.
GSM is a widely used mobile phone technology and India sure doesn’t want to be left behind.