(a) whether the Government will provide broadband access to all villages across the country in the targeted time and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has launched any mission to enable fast track growth of digital communication infrastructure in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the fund allocation by the Government in this regard during the last three years, State/UT-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS,
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)
(a) & (b) National Broadband Mission (NBM) was launched on 17th December 2019 with a vision to fast track growth of digital communications infrastructure, bridge the digital divide, facilitate digital empowerment and inclusion, and provide affordable and universal access of broadband for all. The Mission inter-alia envisages to provide broadband access to all villages in the country by year 2022.
Towards this end, BharatNet project is already being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) (approx. 2.5 lakh) in the country. As on 21 February, 2020 1,36,341 GPs (including Block Headquarters) have been made service ready.
(c) State/UT-wise Subsidy disbursed from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) during last three years i.e 2016-17 to 2018-19 for provisioning of Broadband access in the country is at Annexure.