The government of Tamil Nadu is actively working on the establishment of 223 mobile towers in rural regions as part of the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) scheme, with 197 towers already completed. The remaining 26 towers, located in remote areas, are scheduled to be operational by March 2025, ensuring uninterrupted mobile connectivity.
M Chandrasekar, deputy director general, Department of Telecommunications, Tamil Nadu, stated that the Central government has launched a mission to bridge the telecom gap in rural areas through the DBN scheme, which is funded by the government. The initiative aims to enhance network coverage in underserved regions and provide seamless mobile services at affordable rates to areas that have previously lacked access to mainstream telecommunications.
To facilitate this, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has formed an Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR) agreement, allowing customers from other operators like Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio to utilise BSNL’s tower facilities in these remote locations.
In return, BSNL subscribers will also benefit from mobile networks in areas where Airtel or Reliance Jio have established towers under the DBN scheme. This initiative is anticipated to enable rural and remote communities to access vital services such as e-governance, education, and healthcare, ultimately contributing to their upliftment.
