Tamil Nadu is making significant strides in improving rural connectivity through the establishment of 223 mobile towers under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) scheme. According to a senior official from the Department of Telecom, 197 mobile towers have already been completed, with the remaining 26, located in remote areas, set to be operational by March 2025. These towers aim to ensure seamless mobile connectivity in underserved regions.
M. Chandrasekar, Deputy Director General of the Department of Telecom in Tamil Nadu, shared this update while providing details about three schemes launched by Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in Delhi. He explained that the DBN scheme, funded by the government, is part of a mission to close the telecom gap in rural areas by enhancing network coverage and making mobile services more accessible and affordable in previously disconnected regions.
Chandrasekar highlighted that in Tamil Nadu, DBN towers primarily cater to BSNL customers. However, to expand access, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has implemented an Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR) arrangement. This allows customers of other operators, such as Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, to use BSNL’s tower facilities in remote locations, while BSNL subscribers can access networks established by Airtel and Jio under the DBN scheme. This initiative is expected to improve access to essential services like e-governance, education, and healthcare, contributing to the development of rural and remote communities.
The launch of the Sanchar Saathi mobile application was another significant development. Previously available as a portal, the service is now accessible on Android and iOS platforms. The app allows users to check the number of mobile connections registered under their name and report unauthorized connections for disconnection. Additionally, in cases of lost mobile phones, users can block the handset by providing the IMEI number. In Tamil Nadu alone, 1.44 lakh mobile devices have been blocked, and 17,230 lost handsets have been recovered and returned to their rightful owners. The state currently has approximately 9 crore active mobile subscribers, and 7.5 lakh fraudulent telecom connections have been blocked.
Chandrasekar also discussed the launch of National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0, which aims to accelerate India’s digital transformation. By 2030, the mission targets providing broadband connectivity to 90% of institutions, including schools, public health centers, anganwadi centers, and panchayat offices. Additionally, it aims to increase the national average fixed broadband speed from 63.55 Mbps to 100 Mbps. These initiatives collectively aim to boost India’s global competitiveness while enhancing digital inclusion.
