The Government of India has achieved complete mobile network coverage in all 68 identified border villages of Sikkim, and has successfully covered over 90% of similar habitations across the Northeastern states.
Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha by Sikkim MP Dr. Indra Hang Subba, the Ministry of Communications revealed that 4,696 out of 5,200 remote villages along international borders in the Northeast have now been connected. The milestone is especially significant for Sikkim, which shares strategic boundaries with China, Nepal, and Bhutan.
The Digital Bharat Nidhi (earlier known as the Universal Service Obligation Fund or USOF) has played a central role in this transformation. In Sikkim alone, 11 mobile towers were installed to connect 13 key villages, some located in high-altitude and inaccessible terrain of North Sikkim. These towers are now ensuring delivery of education, healthcare, and administrative services in areas where road connectivity is unreliable.
The Centre has sanctioned ₹1,775.53 crore between 2020 and 2025 for telecom infrastructure across the Northeast. The funds have helped build essential communication backbones in some of the country’s most challenging terrains, with focus on border villages.
“This is not just about mobile signal—it’s about safety, governance, and integration,” said Dr. Subba. “Connectivity in the border is a lifeline, not a luxury.”