Current Affairs

4G Broadband in North Eastern Region

4G Broadband in North Eastern Region

As of June 2025, out of 45,934 villages in the North Eastern Region (as per data of Registrar General of India), 42,093 villages are covered with mobile connectivity and out of these, 40,663 villages have 4G mobile connectivity. The State-wise mobile coverage status in North Eastern Region (NER) is at Annexure.

Mobile coverage for any uncovered inhabited villages is provided by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) based on the techno-commercial viability. Government, through funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), is implementing various projects/schemes for expansion of telecom connectivity through installation of mobile towers in the rural, remote and border areas of the country, including the NER.

The DBN projects under Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for the NER are for providing mobile connectivity to uncovered villages and areas along National Highways with the objective of extending mobile network access to underserved population in the region. As on June 2025, 2,485 mobile towers have been commissioned under DBN schemes in NER, providing mobile connectivity to 3,389 villages/locations.

BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) for broadband services, such as Wi-Fi Hotspots, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections etc. Further, the Union Cabinet has approved Amended BharatNet Program for provisioning of connectivity to all GPs in the country in ring topology including upgrading existing network and connectivity to about 3.8 Lakh non-GP villages on demand basis. As of June 2025, 6,355 GPs have been made service ready and 12,283 FTTH connections have been provided under BharatNet project in NER.

The telecom connectivity provided under DBN projects has led to equitable access to communications and digital services for education, healthcare, and e-governance in remote and border districts.

 

Annexure

State-wise mobile coverage status in North Eastern Region (NER)

State

Total no. of villages (as per RGI data)

No. of Villages having
mobile connectivity 

No. of villages having 4G coverage

Arunachal Pradesh

5993

4258

3094

Assam

26429

26007

25934

Manipur

2612

2219

2132

Meghalaya

7100

6424

6394

Mizoram

867

755

749

Nagaland

1535

1235

1213

Sikkim

461

453

442

Tripura

937

742

705

Total

45,934

42,093

40,663

 

This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.