Projects worth Rs 8,588 cr approved for telecom towers, 4G in Northeast

The Digital Communication Commission on Thursday approved various telecom infrastructure projects, including roll out of more than 3,500 mobile towers for 4G services in North East, involving total expenditure of Rs 8,588 crore.

The DCC, formerly known as telecom commission, approved a special scheme to cover close to 12,000 uncovered villages in aspirational districts, a top official said on Thursday.

The DCC has approved 1,917 mobile towers for 2,968 uncovered villages of Arunachal Pradesh and two districts of Assam.

"4G connectivity has been approved for uncovered villages in North East. This includes 2,215 villages in Arunachal and 763 villages in two districts of Assam. This also includes highway. The total cost estimates is Rs 2,536 crore," DCC Chairman and Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash told reporters after the meeting of the commission.

The proposal will need approval of the Cabinet.

Prakash said that the project is expected is to be completed in 18 months from the date it is awarded to telecom operators.

The DCC also approved 1,593 mobile towers for 4G connectivity in 2,691 uncovered villages of Meghalaya at an outlay Rs 2,132 crore, Prakash said.

The DCC also approved Rs 2,065 crore for Bharat Net project in Telangana and Rs 1,815 crore in Tamil Nadu.