To improve telecom services in commercially unviable rural and remote areas of the country and to provide mobile services in uncovered villages, Government has taken a number of projects and initiatives. Details of these Government funded major projects are as follows:

1. BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. As of Jun-2025; 2,14,325 GPs have been made service ready under BharatNet project in the country. State/UT-wise list of Gram Panchayats (GPs) provided with broadband connectivity under the BharatNet project is available on Digital Bharat Nidhi website (https://usof.gov.in/en/home). Further, on 04.08.2023, Government has approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) for up-gradation of existing network of BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II, creation of network in balance 42,000 GPs (approx.). Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has been nominated as the Project Management Agency for ABP with timeline of three years from the signing of agreement, for completion of construction phase and then operation and maintenance will start.
2. For provision of high-speed internet/data and mobile services in uncovered remote & rural areas of the country, various targeted schemes/projects have been implemented in partnership with BSNL & other private telecom service providers (TSPs) of the country. Under 4G Saturation and other mobile projects, till Jun-2025, 21,748 mobile towers have been commissioned in the country.
3. For providing high speed internet/data connectivity to Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, submarine optical fibre cable (OFC) projects between Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (2312 Km) and between Mainland (Kochi) and Lakshadweep Islands (1869 km) have been commissioned on 10.08.2020 and 03.01.2024 respectively through BSNL. These optical fibre cable projects have facilitated faster roll out of mobile services (4G/5G) and other high-speed data/internet services in the Islands.
4. Under various projects, Government has disbursed Rs.90,813.58 Cr. till 30.06.2025.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

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Samrat/ Allen

(Release ID: 2147763)