Rs 5k cr to improve NE tele network, Rs 3.5k cr for Naxal area

Government today said it has earmarked Rs 5,000 crore for improving the telecom network in the northeast and Rs 3,500 crore for Naxal affected states.
Minister for Communications and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad told Lok Sabha that the NDA government has given maximum emphasis on improving the telecommunication network in remote and inaccessible areas.
"We have earmarked Rs 5,000 crore for the northeastern region and Rs 3,500 crore for the Left Wing Extremism affected states to improve the communication network," he said during Question Hour.
Prasad said there are 79 lakh subscribers of Wireless on Local Loop (WLL), which is mostly taken by those living in rural areas.

"As reported by various telecom service providers, WLL connections are working satisfactorily in general.
"However, sometimes in view of poor domestic power supply in certain areas, including backward, remote and rural areas, the in-built battery of subscriber end terminal does not get charged properly or functioning of the base station gets affected causing interruption of service to the customers," he said.