Bhubaneswar: As many as 2,792 villages in Odisha will be connected with 4G mobile services under the Central government’s ‘Antodaya’ scheme.
The Union Cabinet at its meeting on Wednesday approved the project for saturation of 4G mobile services in uncovered villages across the country. The project entailing a total cost of Rs 26,316 crore will provide 4G mobile services in 24,680 uncovered villages in remote and difficult areas. Besides, 6,279 villages having 2G/3G connectivity will be upgraded to 4G.
As per the Cabinet decision, 57 villages of Angul district in Odisha will have 4G services, Balangir-07, Balasore-11, Bargarh-12, Boudh-118, Bhadrak-16, Cuttack-37, Debagarh-83, Dhenkanal-10, Gajapati-238, Ganjam-194, Jagatsinghpur-02, Jajpur-41, Jharsugurda-03, Kalahandi-203, Kandhamal-465, Kendrapara-07, Kendujhar-80, Khurda-09, Koraput-270, Malkangiri-102, Mayurbhanj-165, Nabarangpur-15, Nayagarh-130, Nuapada-28, Puri-04, Rayagada-203, Sambalpur-81, Subarnapur-05 and Sundargarh-196 villages.
The project will be executed by BSNL using Atmanirbhar Bharat’s 4G technology stack and will be funded through Universal Service Obligation Fund. The project cost includes capex and 5 year opex. BSNL is already in process of deployment of Atmanirbhar 4G technology stack which will be deployed in this project as well.
Last year, the Centre approved a project for providing 4G mobile services in 7,287 uncovered villages of 44 aspirational districts across 5 states, according to a release of Ministry of Telecom.