BharatNet Project

Syllabus: Govt. Schemes (UPSC Prelims)

Context:

The BharatNet project continues to play a pivotal role in bridging India’s digital divide by providing high-speed broadband connectivity to rural areas, thereby fostering inclusive growth and enabling digital empowerment.

About BharatNet Project

• Origin: Initially launched as the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) in 2011 and renamed BharatNet in 2015 under the Ministry of Communications¹.
• Objective: To provide affordable broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in India and facilitate access to e-health, e-education, and e-governance services.
• Scale: One of the largest rural broadband projects globally, targeting 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats.

Phases of Implementation

1. Phase I (Completed in 2017):
   Connected 1 lakh GPs using optical fiber and existing infrastructure.
2. Phase II (Ongoing):
   Extends coverage to 1.5 lakh GPs using optical fiber, radio, and satellite technologies in partnership with states and private players.
3. Phase III (Ongoing):
   Focuses on 5G integration, enhanced bandwidth, and last-mile connectivity through the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP, 2023).

Amended BharatNet Program (ABP, 2023)

• Goal: Provide optical fiber connectivity to 2.64 lakh GPs in ring topology and extend connectivity to non-GP villages on demand.
• Key Features:
  • IP-MPLS Network: For efficient data routing.
  • Remote Fibre Monitoring System: Enables real-time oversight of network health.
• Implementation:
  • Executed by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).
  • BSNL acts as the Project Management Agency for operations and maintenance.
  • Funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), which replaced the Universal Service Obligation Fund.

Current Status (2025)

• Gram Panchayats connected: ~2.18 lakh service-ready.
• Optical Fiber Cable laid: Over 42 lakh route kilometers.
• FTTH connections: 12 lakh+
• Wi-Fi Hotspots: 1 lakh+

Supporting Digital Empowerment Initiatives

• Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA):
  Ensures digital literacy; over 6.39 crore people trained (as of March 2024).
• National Broadband Mission (NBM) & NBM 2.0 (2025):
  Focuses on accelerating digital infrastructure; includes GatiShakti Sanchar Portal for Right of Way (RoW) approvals.
• CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd (CSC SPV):
  Installed 1.04 lakh Wi-Fi points and 11.42 lakh FTTH connections in GPs.
• Mobile Connectivity:
  By Dec 2024, 6.25 lakh villages connected via mobile networks, including 6.18 lakh with 4G coverage.
  India achieved the world’s fastest 5G rollout, deploying over 4 lakh 5G BTSs across 779 districts.

In essence: BharatNet is transforming India’s rural digital landscape, enabling e-governance, boosting rural development, and driving digital inclusion across the nation.

1. Question Reference
   (HPAS PYQ 2025) ↩︎