NEW DELHI: Though the tele-density in the country has increased considerably in the recent times, the urban rural divide in tele-density in India is widening.

In reply to a question in Parliament today, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said that while the urban tele-density in India as on August 31, 2008 is 74.33 per cent, the rural tele-density is 11.88 per cent.

As on March 31, 2008, this was 66.39 per cent and 9.46 per cent respectively. The overall tele-density increased to 29.83 per cent  on September 30, from 26.22 on  March 31, 2008.

The minister said steps have been taken to bridge this urban-rural divide with support from universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for provisioning of Rural Direct Exchange Lines (RDELs) in all the 1685 net cost positive Short Distance Charging Areas (SDCAs).

The Total amount of allocation and target fixed for USOF during the current financial year is Rs..2000 crore, the minister informed Parliament. The total amount of USO Fund released and utilized by the telecom operators during the current year till September 30 is Rs..357 crore.

He said a scheme has been launched by USO Fund to provide subsidy support for setting up and managing 7,871 infrastructure sites (towers) in 500 districts spread over 27 states, for provision of mobile services in the specified rural and remote areas in the country, where there is no fixed wireless or mobile coverage.

Also, about 11,000 additional towers are proposed to be installed in the second phase.

As a step to increase the rural tele-density,  BSNL would initiate large-scale deployment of WLL network in rural areas. In the remote areas where terrestrial technology is difficult to implement, the state-owned telecom provider would install Digital Satellite Phone Terminals (DSPTs).

In addition to the efforts made by BSNL, the private operators are also offering their services to meet the demand for telephone, the minister said.

As on August 31, 2008, out if 5,93,601 inhabited villages in the country 5,30,624 villages have been provided with Village Public Telephones (VPTs) facility.