2.7K more mobile towers to be installed in 10 Naxal-hit states

Aiming to improve telecom network in 10 Naxal-affected states, the Centre plans to install 2,700 additional mobile towers in these areas.
The proposed 2,700 mobile towers will be installed in addition to the 2,199 towers recently installed in some of the worst Maoist-hit regions.
"A proposal is being mooted for setting up of the new 2,700 mobile towers and we hope that the Union Cabinet will soon give its nod to it," a senior government official said.
The exact cost of the entire endeavour is not immediately known but the expenses will be borne by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) of the Department of Telecommunications.

The towers will strengthen the telecom network resulting in increased mobile penetration in Left Wing Extremism affected and other areas facing security challenges.
106 districts across 10 states have been identified by the government as naxal-affected. The states are: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The objective of the USOF is to provide widespread and non-discriminatory access to quality ICT services at affordable prices to people in rural and remote areas.
Besides, the Fund is aimed at providing effective and powerful linkage to the hinterland thereby mainstreaming the population of rural and remote parts of the country.

The already installed 2,199 mobile towers were put up by the BSNL and mostly in close proximity of security force establishments.
The new towers will be spread over all 10 Maoist-hit states, the official said.