The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to scale down its mobile communications infrastructure rollout plans in all Naxal-prone states. This is aimed at curbing the subsidy amount required for the project.
The Ministry is in agreement with DoT?s view that BSNL’s mobile coverage in Naxal-prone states should be confined to major human habitation zones and not the forests.
Prior to this, such areas had come under the Ministry?s scanner, as mobile infrastructure and optic fibre cable routes were threatened and private operators were averse to entering these areas.
Thereafter, a high security mobile infrastructure venture was envisaged for these areas, to be executed by BSNL. However, differences arose between BSNL and officials of the Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) over funding of the project, as BSNL had requested for a central subsidy.
Currently, USOF has agreed to consider a subsidy if BSNL scales down its mobile coverage plans in such states.
