The Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, Shakeel Ahmad, has informed the Rajya Sabha that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) intends to invest about Rs 2000 crore, to propagate broadband in both urban and rural areas across India. The present broadband customer base of BSNL is 8.77 lakhs.

According to Ahmad, the government would also provide support for provision of infrastructure for mobile services including Wireless Access Services using Fixed/Mobile terminals in rural and remote areas of the country.

"The infrastructure shall be created in those specified areas where no fixed wireless or mobile coverage exists. A total of 7,871 towers would be set up in rural and remote areas of the country in 500 districts spread over 27 states," remarked Ahmad.

Tenders have been invited from Basic Service Operators (BSO), Cellular Mobile Telephone Service (CMTS) providers, Unified Access Services Licences (UASL) and short-listed Infrastructure Providers Category-I (IP-I) to set up these towers, added Ahmad.