(a) the target set by the Government to connect all the villages of the country with the internet;
(b) the State and district-wise details of the number of villages connected with the internet so far; and
(c) the time by which the remaining villages are likely to be connected with the internet facility?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS
(SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)
(a) to (c) Internet facility is provided in the country by the Government, the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) through wireless mobile and fixed wireline connections in phased manner. As per data provided by Telecom Service Providers and field units of Department of Telecommunications, it is estimated that out of 5,97,618 inhabited villages (as per Census 2011) in the country, mobile wireless coverage has been provided in 5,72,551 villages. The state wise and district wise mobile coverage status of villages of country is given at Annexure.
BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to create a network to connect all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) with broadband in the country. The scope of BharatNet on 30.06.2021 has been extended upto all inhabited villages beyond GPs in the country. Timeline of the BharatNet Project is upto 2025.