Question : BharatNet Project

(a) whether BharatNet is a project envisaged by the Government to digitally connect all the Gram Panchayats (GPs)and villages of India by way of laying Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) upto GP level;

(b) if so, whether there is a plan to connect all the GPs in Bihar and Odisha;

(c) if so, the number of broadband connections working in Odisha and the action being taken for providing broadband facility to all GPs under Phase-I and II;

(d) the steps being taken to provide mobile connectivity in uncovered villages; and

(e) whether there is any proposal received from State Governments of Odisha and Bihar in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS
(SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) & (b) BharatNet project is implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity through an optimal mix of media (OFC/Radio/Satellite) to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country, including Bihar and Odisha. The scope of BharatNet has been recently extended up to all inhabited villages beyond GPs in the country, including Bihar and Odisha.

(c) Phase-II of BharatNet is implemented in Odisha in State-led model through the State Government under which, 2786 GPs have been made Service Ready out of 2946 planned GPs. Further, 22 GPs have been made Service Ready on Satellite media out of 43 planned GPs. Under Phase-I, a total number of 3810 GPs were taken up for implementation through Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), out of which 3809 GPs have been made Service Ready. In total, 6617 GPs have been made Service Ready in Odisha, as on 28.02.2022.

The work of providing broadband connections (Fibre to the home connections) in Phase-I GPs is implemented with funding from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). As on 28.02.2022, total 7487 FTTH connections are commissioned in Phase-I GPs. Further, Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), the Executing Agency for BharatNet project, has signed 74 Agreements with Service Providers for providing broadband services across various States by utilizing BharatNet Phase-I network in the country. Out of these Agreements, four are for providing services on pan-India basis (including in Odisha).
BharatNet Phase-II in Odisha is implemented by the State Government, which is also responsible for its utilization. As on 28.02.2022, 1740 broadband connections are commissioned in Phase-II GPs.

(d) & (e) Mobile connectivity is extended by the Government and the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) in a phased manner in the uncovered villages of the country. For providing mobile services in uncovered villages of the country, the Government, with funding from USOF, has approved Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for NER, Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected area schemes, Aspirational Districts Schemes, Comprehensive Telecom development plan for Islands, etc. However, no specific proposal has been received from Bihar and Odisha State Governments in this regard.