Efforts to bridge the digital divide in remote regions of Jammu and Kashmir are gaining momentum as the Jammu and Kashmir Revenue Department takes a significant step to transfer land to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for the purpose of 4G saturation. This development underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring that even the most remote villages have access to high-speed mobile services.
4G Saturation: A National Initiative
BSNL has been entrusted with the crucial task of providing connectivity to remote and underserved areas as part of the government’s ambitious 4G saturation plan. In 2022, the Union Cabinet gave the green light to a project aimed at saturating 4G mobile services in all villages across India that lacked coverage. Now, in a major move to realize this vision, the Jammu and Kashmir Government’s Revenue Department has issued an order dated August 25, 2023, facilitating the transfer of land to BSNL, a Government of India Enterprise, for the purpose of enabling 4G mobile service saturation in previously underserved villages throughout the Jammu and Kashmir region.
Land Transfer for 4G Connectivity
The government order states, “Sanction is hereby accorded to the transfer of land measuring 37 Kanal 07 Sarsai at 93 different locations in favour of BSNL for saturation of 5G mobile services in district Reasi, Udhampur, Doda, Shopian, Baramulla, Pulwama, Ramban, Kishtwar and Rajouri in terms of authorization pursuant to Administrative Council Decision No March 26, 2023.”
Conditions and Authorization
As outlined in the order, the land transfer is executed on an “as is where is” basis and is designated exclusively for the objective of facilitating 4G mobile service saturation by BSNL. However, this usage is contingent upon obtaining all necessary permissions required for construction.
Project Momentum and Timeline
In April, the Administrative Council, led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, granted approval for the crucial land transfer, marking a pivotal milestone in the journey towards 4G saturation in previously uncovered villages across Jammu and Kashmir.
The 4G Saturation project, which gained approval from the Union Cabinet in July of the preceding year, officially commenced implementation in February 2023. To finance this ambitious endeavor, the government allocated Rs 26,316 crore from the Universal Service Obligation Fund.The project is anticipated to be completed within a 500-day timeframe.
Subscriber Count and Beyond
In a related development, BSNL observed a marginal decline of approximately 1.8 million subscribers during the month of June 2023, bringing its total subscriber count to 99,476,822, just shy of the 100 million milestone. Despite this slight dip, BSNL remains a vital player in India’s telecommunications landscape, especially in ensuring that remote and underserved areas are not left behind in the digital revolution.
With the land transfer for 4G saturation, BSNL’s mission to bring high-speed connectivity to remote villages in Jammu and Kashmir takes a significant step forward, aligning with the government’s vision of a digitally inclusive India.
