Imphal, August 21: Manipur has recorded a significant leap in telecom connectivity, with 2,219 out of its 2,612 villages now covered by mobile networks, and 2,132 villages enjoying 4G access, according to the latest government data presented in Parliament.
The figures, shared by Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, underscore the role of the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) projects and the BharatNet initiative in transforming connectivity in the North Eastern Region (NER).
Across the NER, 42,093 of 45,934 villages have mobile network access, and 40,663 enjoy 4G coverage. For Manipur, this translates to nearly 85% connectivity, a vital development for a state where difficult terrain and insurgency-affected border areas have historically posed challenges to digital inclusion.
To address gaps, the government has tasked Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) with expanding coverage to any remaining uncovered inhabited villages based on techno-commercial viability. “Through funding from the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), the government is rolling out multiple schemes to expand telecom networks in rural, remote, and border districts, including along highways,” Dr. Sekhar stated.
Under the Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for the NER, as of June 2025, 2,485 mobile towers have been commissioned, extending connectivity to 3,389 previously uncovered villages and highway stretches.
Complementing this, the BharatNet project is being phased in to connect all Gram Panchayats (GPs) with broadband services, Wi-Fi hotspots, and Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) networks. So far, 6,355 GPs have been made service-ready and 12,283 FTTH connections have been rolled out across the NER.
