Telcos invested Rs 4.31 lakh crore in FY15

Gross investments by private telecom operators reached Rs 4.31 lakh crore in 2014-15, government said Wednesday.

The worth of 'Capital Work in Progress' in that financial year was Rs 91,373 crore was in progress, it said.

Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha that gross block of investments made by private telecom operators increased to Rs 4,31,597 crore in 2014-15, from Rs 3,65,665 crore in 2013-14.

The gross block of investments includes both tangible and intangible assets of telecom operators.

Sinha also said that the telecom operators have invested in installing mobile towers.

The total number of base transceiver stations installed by various telecom service providers at different mobile tower locations as on February 28, 2015 was 8.58 lakh and on May 31, 2016, it reached to 11.9 lakh, he said.

"The net addition in BTSs during last 15 months, from February 28, 2015 to May 31, 2016 is 3,32,817," Sinha said.

Telecom operators have come under sharp criticism for call drops. The mobile service providers blamed it on issues like local authority permissions and resistance from residents obstructing installing of mobile towers.

Government and telecom regulator Trai both have earlier pulled telecom operators for lack of investments in networks resulting in call drops.

However, telecom operators have denied charged saying they lose maximum if network is poor and will not hesitate in making investments to improve it.