Communications Minister A Raja said before a Parliamentary Committee that state-owned PSU BSNL will erect 19,000 towers in two phases in an effort to push rural telephony.

"Some 8,000 mobile towers will be erected by the end of this year under Phase-I of the shared mobile infrastructure scheme," said Raja.

He said that the government is giving highest priority in setting up communication facilities in the rural areas.

Villages will also be provided broadband services with 5000 blocks to be covered with wireless broadband in the first phase.