Question : National Optical Fibre Network

(a) the details of optical fibre laid so far under the National Optical Fibre Network Project and the time frame to achieve the remaining targets;

(b) the number of Gram Panchayats connected with broadband and WiFi hotspots so far under the said project along with the State-wise details thereof;

(c) the number of Gram Panchayats of Gujarat, Jharkhand, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh yet to be connected under the said project, the district-wise details thereof;

(d) the total amount of funds that have been allocated, released and spent so far during the last three years year-wise under the said project along with the cost outlay for completing the said project and the State-wise details thereof; and

(e) the details of the problems being faced in the implementation of the stated project?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS &
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a)& (b) BharatNet project (earlier known as National Optical Fibre Network Project) is being implemented in a phased manner to create a network to connect all the Gram Panchayats (approx. 2.5 lakh) by broadband in the country. As on 03.02.2019, by laying 3,11,191 km underground OFC, 1,23,766 GPs have been connected and of these Gram Panchayats (GPs), a total of 1,16,961 GPs have been made Service Ready. The State-wise details of the number of Gram Panchayats connected with broadband are given in Annexure-I.

As part of BharatNet project, the last mile connectivity, through Wi-Fi or any other suitable broadband technology to access broadband /internet services, is being provided at all the GPs in the country. The Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed at 41,139 GPs and of these GPs, services are being provided at 10,883 GPs. The State-wise details of the number of Gram Panchayats connected with Wi-Fi hotspots are given in Annexure-II.

The BharatNet project is targeted to be completed by March, 2019.

(c) The District-wise details of GPs of Gujarat, Jharkhand, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, where broadband connectivity is yet to be provided under BharatNet project, are given in Annexure-III.

(d) The funds are allocated/disbursed for the project as a whole and not State-wise, by USOF. The year-wise details of funds allocated/disbursed during the last three years under BharatNet project are given in Annexure-IV. The details of the State-wise expenditure on the project, as per the information received from BBNL, are given in Annexure-V. Further, as approved by the Cabinet on 19.07.2017, the estimated cost of the project is Rs. 42,068 crore.

(e) The BharatNet project is of mega nature as it involves provision of broadband connectivity to all the 2.5 lakh GPs, spread across vast and expansive area of the country.

For laying OFC, the Right of Way (RoW) permissions is required from various agencies/ organizations of the State /Central Government.

However, a revised strategy has been approved by the Cabinet on 19.07.2017 for expediting the implementation of BharatNet project.