Union Minister for Communications and Development of the Northeastern Region, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, today informed the Rajya Sabha about the significant progress and future roadmap of the Department of Telecommunications in providing connectivity to Gram Panchayats (GPs), underlining that BharatNet has evolved into the backbone of India’s digital transformation.

Replying to a question in the House, the Union Minister said that the government’s vision is to provide world-class, fast, and reliable broadband connectivity to every citizen, enabling transformative change in education, healthcare, governance, business, and employment. BharatNet, he said, is no longer just a connectivity project but a national digital infrastructure empowering both rural and urban India.

97% Gram Panchayat Connectivity Achieved Under BharatNet-1 & 2

The Union Minister stated that under BharatNet-1 and BharatNet-2, a target was set to connect more than 2.22 lakh Gram Panchayats across the country. So far, around 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats—i.e., nearly 97%—have been connected, with close to 7 lakh kilometers of optical fiber cable laid nationwide. This has significantly strengthened e-governance, digital payments, online education, telemedicine, and local entrepreneurship in rural India.

Amended BharatNet: World’s Largest Rural Broadband Expansion

Shri Scindia highlighted that the government approved the Amended BharatNet Scheme during late 2023 and 2024, marking the world’s largest capital expenditure broadband program, with a total outlay of ₹1.40 lakh crore (approximately USD 16 billion). The scheme aims to extend broadband connectivity not only to Gram Panchayats but also beyond to nearly 6.5 lakh villages.

Key features include upgrading network architecture from linear to ring topology to ensure 100% redundancy, connecting around 47,000 additional Gram Panchayats, and providing up to 25 Mbps broadband connectivity directly to households. The network is also being modernized through a shift from GPON to MPLS technology, alongside the establishment of State-level Network Operating Centres (S-NOC) and a Central Network Operating Centre (C-NOC) for 24×7 monitoring. These changes will increase the reliability, speed, and continuity of the network manifold, thereby minimizing any disruption to digital services.

Boost to Rural Jobs Through BharatNet Udyami (BNU) Model

The Union Minister informed the House that the Government has launched the BharatNet Udyami (Entrepreneur) Model to link rural connectivity with employment and entrepreneurship. Under this model, so far 7,570 BNUs have been selected, and the remaining more than 380,000 villages will be connected through a demand-driven model. Capital and operational subsidies will be provided to BNUs to support last-mile connectivity, creating new self-employment opportunities and strengthening local digital service delivery.

1.5 Crore FTTH Connections Targeted Nationwide through BharatNet

Shri Scindia said the government aims to provide 1.5 crore Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections across the country through BharatNet, of which over 14 lakh connections have already been delivered till now. As network expansion continues, fiber connectivity will reach every household, opening new opportunities in education, healthcare, agriculture, start-ups, and e-commerce, especially in rural areas.

Gujarat Achieves 100% Targets, Set for Further Expansion

Responding to a Gujarat-specific query, the Union Minister said the state has successfully achieved 100% of its BharatNet-2 targets, covering 14,320 Gram Panchayats under the state-led program of Phase-I and Phase-II. Under the Amended BharatNet Scheme, further upgrades are underway for 14,294 Gram Panchayats, including ring topology conversion for 26 GPs, new fiber laying in more than 30,000 villages, and connecting 3,895 villages on a demand-based model. A total investment of approximately ₹5,691 crore has been earmarked for this. In this regard, a quadripartite agreement between the Government of Gujarat & GFGNL with Digital Bharat Nidhi & BSNL has been signed.

Concluding his reply, Shri Scindia emphasized that BharatNet is a transformative national initiative aimed at integrating rural India into the mainstream of economic and digital opportunities, paving the way for India’s emergence as a truly inclusive digital nation.

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MI/ARJ