(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that broadband as well as optical fiber penetration is very poor in the country compared to other countries;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State wise;
(c) whether the Government has formulated any comprehensive plan to increase the broadband as well as optical fiber penetration in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS
(SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)
(a) & (b) As per estimation by International Telecommunication Union(ITU), around 63 percent of the world’s population was using the internet in 2021. As per the latest “The Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicators” report published by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on 10th January, 2022, the number of Internet subscribers per 100 population in the country is 60.96 at the end of September, 2021. The Licensed Service area wise details Internet Subscribers per 100 population in the country are at Annexure-A.
Further, as per data collected from various Licensed Service providers by field units of Department of Telecommunications, it is estimated that there is around 33 Lakh Km Optical Fibre Cable(OFC) laid in the country at the end of December, 2021. The Licensed Service area wise details of OFC laid in the country at the end of December, 2021 is at Annexure-B.
As per data collected by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), there are about 17.62 million Fibre to the Home (FTTH) Broadband Subscribers in the country at the end of December, 2021 which are around 7 % of the total households in the country. The Licensed Service area wise details of FTTH Broadband Subscribers in the country at the end of December, 2021 is at Annexure-C.
(c) to (e) BharatNet project is implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country mainly though Optical Fibre Cable. On 30.06.2021, the scope of BharatNet was extended upto all inhabited villages beyond GPs in the country. As on 28.02.2022, a total number of 1,72,361 GPs are made Service Ready in the country.
Further, National Broadband Mission(NBM) was launched on 17th December 2019 with a vision to provide affordable and universal access of broadband for all, objectives of the NBM inter-alia include access to broadband to all villages and accelerate fiberization.