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India: 8,000 towers for rural areas this year Print E-mail
Tuesday, 22 April 2008

The Indian government plans to invite tenders to build 8,000 towers in rural areas. The networks would receive financing from the Universal Service Obligation Fund.

Communication and IT Minister A Raja said that around 35% of India’s geographic area is not covered by mobile service. Raja added that out of nearly 560,000 villages, more than 540,000 have been supplied with public phones and the remaining villages would be covered soon.

In addition to installing 8,000 towers in rural areas in the current financial year, the Department of Telecom (DoT) wants to establish an additional 11,000 towers next year.

Source: The Press Trust of India Limited - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News.