Odisha asks telcos to cover 8,000 villages lacking mobile connectivity

The state government has assured the telecom operators that it will address all their concerns such as power supply and right of way

The Odisha government has asked telecom companies to submit expansion plans for covering the 8,000 villages untouched by mobile connectivity.  

Across the country, there are 35,000 villages that are deprived of mobile connectivity. Odisha, with 8,000 such villages, tops the list for uncovered habitations. Districts such as Rayagada, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Koraput and Gajapati in the state's southern region have over 50 per cent villages where mobile services are yet to foray.

"The state government has sought expansion plans from individual telecom companies (telcos) for 2019-20 for covering the 8,000 villages which do not have mobile coverage. Industry associations -- Cellular Operators