Mobile Network Missing in 1,091 Odisha Villages; Tribal Districts Hit Hardest

27 Jul 2026, 10:46 by Vinay Kakkad · KalingaTV

Mobile connectivity continues to elude more than a thousand villages in Odisha despite successive government programmes aimed at expanding digital infrastructure, with the state’s tribal belt bearing the brunt of the coverage gap. Fresh data presented in Parliament reveals that 1,091 revenue villages across Odisha still remain outside the reach of mobile networks, highlighting the persistence of the state’s digital divide.

The figures, shared by Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha question from MP Manas Ranjan Mangaraj, show that Odisha has 51,176 revenue villages, of which 1,091 continue to lack mobile connectivity.

The problem is most acute in southern Odisha. Rayagada accounts for the largest number of uncovered villages at 129, followed by Kandhamal (112), Malkangiri (103), Kalahandi (92), Koraput (85) and Ganjam (80). Most of these districts have difficult terrain and sizeable tribal populations, making telecom infrastructure expansion particularly challenging.

The absence of reliable mobile services has implications far beyond communication. Residents in these villages continue to face barriers in accessing digital education, healthcare, banking and government welfare programmes. In several remote pockets, people reportedly have to travel to nearby hilltops or elevated locations simply to obtain a mobile signal, even during emergencies requiring ambulance, police or fire services.

Students are among those most affected. Weak or non-existent networks disrupt access to online classes, digital learning resources, competitive examination applications and skill development platforms. The connectivity deficit also limits the use of telemedicine, e-Hospital services, UPI-based digital payments and various online government services, including pension disbursal, scholarship applications, Aadhaar-related services and agricultural support schemes.

Addressing the issue, the Centre informed Parliament that multiple initiatives are currently underway to extend telecom coverage to uncovered areas. These projects are being funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi and include the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Affected Areas Project, the Aspirational District Scheme and the nationwide 4G Saturation Project.

The government also said telecom service providers are independently expanding their networks to improve coverage in remaining uncovered locations. However, it did not indicate a timeline by which all villages in Odisha would receive mobile connectivity.

The latest parliamentary disclosure underscores that, despite significant investments in digital infrastructure under the Digital India mission, large parts of rural Odisha—particularly its remote and tribal districts—continue to remain disconnected from essential mobile services, limiting both economic opportunities and access to increasingly digital public services.