Staff Reporter
Guwahati: In this digital age, it is a matter of concern that 504 villages or habitations in border areas in the Northeast region are still out of mobile phone network coverage. However, it is consoling that no villages remain without network coverage in Assam and Sikkim.
According to available information, Arunachal Pradesh has the highest number of border villages without mobile networks, with 337 such villages or habitations. There are a total of 1,502 villages in the border areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
In Manipur, 69 of the total of 263 villages in border areas are still without mobile network coverage.
Meghalaya has 34 such villages existing without mobile network. There are a total of 1,272 villages in the border areas of Meghalaya. The other states in the NE region having border area villages or habitations without mobile network coverage-13 villages in Mizoram, 39 in Nagaland, and 12 in Tripura.
As a whole, the eight NE states have a total of 5,200 villages or habitations. Of this, 504 villages or habitations are still out of mobile phone network coverage.
Mobile coverage for any uncovered inhabited villages is provided by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) based on the techno-commercial viability. The government, through funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), is implementing various schemes for expansion of telecom connectivity through installation of mobile towers in the rural, remote, and border areas of the country. As of June 2025, 11 sites have been commissioned in Sikkim under DBN-funded mobile schemes, providing mobile coverage to 13 villages, including border areas, according to the Ministry of Communications.
During the past five financial years (FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25), Rs. 1775.53 crore has been allocated or disbursed under various schemes of Digital Bharat Nidhi for strengthening mobile networks in remote areas of the Northeastern Region.
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