Number of villages without 4G connectivity falls by three-fourths in four years
Data obtained by The Hindu under the Right to Information Act shows a sharp decline in the number of villages without serviceable internet speeds
In four years, the number of villages without 4G connectivity has plummeted by three-quarters, according to data released by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The count of such villages has dwindled from 45,180 in 2022 to 11,372, as of now. This substantial reduction is attributed to BSNL's 4G saturation project, though private operators have also contributed to the effort.
However, the current figure still exceeds the scheme's initial target of covering 24,680 villages, suggesting that additional measures are needed. The decline is particularly significant in light of historical connectivity disparities between urban and rural India. Despite the progress, the nation remains far from achieving universal smartphone ownership, especially when compared to the extensive high-speed 5G coverage and affordable wired home broadband available in cities and towns.
The situation is further underscored by the stagnation of additions to wired broadband subscriptions, which has persisted for months. Consequently, mobile broadband has become the primary means of internet access for Indians, highlighting the importance of this development.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
