Question : BharatNet Project

(a) the salient features of the BharatNet Project and the current status of implementation of the same;

(b) the number of Gram Panchayats connected with the optical fibre under the said project, State/UT-wise and the number of Gram Panchayats where broadband connectivity has been provided, State/ UT-wise;

(c) the reasons for the reported delay in the execution of the said project and the time by which it is likely to cover all Gram Panchayats across the country along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) the funds sanctioned/allocated and utilized under the project during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and

(e) the internet penetration rate in the country in terms of number of internet subscribers per hundred population, State/ UT-wise?

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, LAW & JUSTICE AND
ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) BharatNet, one of the biggest rural telecom projects of the world, is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity at all Gram Panchayats (approx. 2,50,000) in the country. The infrastructure created by BharatNet is a national asset and non-discriminatory access to Service Providers is to be provided under the project.The Phase-I was completed in December 2017 under which more than 1 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) were connected.

On 19.07.2017, the Union Cabinet approved a modified strategy for implementing BharatNet under which, the remaining 1,50,000 (approx.) Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country are to be provided broadband connectivity in Phase-II of the project. The salient features of the BharatNet Phase-II, which is under implementation, are as follows:
i. The implementation is to be done through State Model, Private Sector Model and CPSU Model.
ii. Optimal mix of media (OFC, Radio and satellite) to be used to connect GPs.
iii. Service delivery mechanism by providing last mile connectivity, through Wi-Fi or any other suitable broadband technology to all GPs has been made an integral part of the project.

As on date, 3,37,515 km Optical Fibre Cable has been laid, thereby connecting 1,28,870 GPs by Optical Fibre Cable (OFC), out of which 1,19,513 GPs are Ready for broadband service. In addition 828 GPs have been made Service Ready on satellite media (i.e. a total of 1,20,341 GPs are Service Ready).

(b) Status of GPs connected with optical Fiber, State/UT-wise, under BharatNet project is as per Annexure-I.

(c) All out efforts are being made to expeditiously implement the project. The delay in the initial implementation of the project was on account of:
(i) Delay in the initial commencement of project as the work on the project began in the second half of 2014 due to field survey of GPs and pilot testing of the technology model.
(ii) Only one media that is underground OFC to cover GPs, and Right of Way (RoW) issues.
Since May 2016, with the constitution of the following committees, the issues are being resolved timely:
i) Empowered Committee under Secretary, DoT.
ii) Steering Committee under Administrator, USOF.
iii) State Committee under Chief General Manager (CGM), BSNL for resolution of State level issues.

(d) Funds released by BBNL, State/UT wise in last three years is at Annexure- II.

(e) Internet penetration rate in the country, State/UT-wise, is at Annexure-III.