Teledensity to double in three years: Raja

The Centre today said the target of 600 million phone connections by 2012 under the National Telecom Policy-1999 had been achieved and claimed teledensity, particularly in rural areas, would double in the next three years.

Every month not less than two crore connections were given, Union Communications and IT Minister A Raja said launching the BSNL's 3G mobile service here.

The target of 600 million connections by 2012 under the National Telecom Policy-1999 had not only been achieved but exceeded with 650 million provided the telecom facility, Raja said.

Teledensity particularly in rural areas, which was now 10 per cent, would double in the next three years, he said.

"BSNL is having wider concentration and coverage of people in remote villages," he said and appealed to the workers and employees to be prepared to face the challenge posed by private players.

Allaying fears of employees and other stakeholders that BSNL would be privatised, he said "nothing would be done to affect the workers and their welfare and no decision would be taken without consulting the workers."