The government has informed the parliament that telecom operators disconnected 15,382 and 32,032 connections during 2021 and 2022, respectively, over violation of regulations meant to curb unsolicited commercial communication (UCC) or pesky calls and messages.
In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Communications, Electronics and Information Technology and Railways, informed that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has imposed financial disincentives of Rs 349 million on access service providers for failing to curb UCC in their networks from registered telemarketers.
To another question in Rajya Sabha on domestic production of telecom equipment, Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Communications, informed that 42 companies have been approved under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme which includes 17 design-led manufacturing companies. As on January 31, 2023, sales of Rs 204.46 billion have been reported under the PLI scheme.
Further, to a separate question on the assets of the state-owned telecom companies, Chauhan informed that the total assets value of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) stood at Rs 1.26 trillion and Rs 123.03 billion, respectively, as on March 31, 2022. The area of land owned by BSNL and MTNL is about 10,568 acres and 334.36 acres, respectively. Chauhan added that BSNL sold one land of area 1.48 acres to the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships in Goa. Further, BSNL has leased out two properties that is a land of area 0.56 acres in Patna to Gas Authority of India Limited and a land of area 24.29 acres at Gopalpur, West Bengal to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited. MTNL has not sold or leased out any property till date.
