BHARATNET CONNECTS 2.15 GRAM PANCHAYATS
Why in News?
- The Government of India announced that the BharatNet Programme has connected more than 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats with broadband connectivity.
- This initiative is part of India’s effort to expand optical fibre networks, 5G services and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to strengthen rural digital connectivity.
EXPANSION OF OPTICAL FIBRE NETWORK
- India has significantly expanded its optical fibre infrastructure.
- Key figures:
- 19.35 lakh route km in 2019
- Increased to 42.36 lakh route km in 2025
- This expansion supports high-speed internet connectivity across the country, including rural areas.
GROWTH OF 5G CONNECTIVITY
- India’s 5G network has expanded rapidly.
- Current status:
- 99.9% of districts covered by 5G
- Over 5.18 lakh Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) installed (as of December 2025)
- This enables faster internet and improved digital services
PUBLIC WIFI EXPANSION UNDER PM WANI
- Under the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) initiative:
- 4,09,111 public Wi-Fi hotspots have been deployed
- Supported by 207 PDO Aggregators
- Supported by 113 App Providers
- The scheme aims to provide affordable and high-speed internet, especially in rural and remote areas.
IMPACT ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT
The government highlighted that digital connectivity in rural areas helps:
- Improve access to government schemes
- Support rural livelihoods
- Connect citizens to digital markets
- Promote digital literacy
It also helps deliver services like:
- e-Health
- e-Education
- e-Governance
GROWTH OF INDIA’S DATA CENTRES & CLOUD INFRASTRUCTURE
- India’s data centre capacity is expanding rapidly.
- Current capacity:
- Around 1,280 Megawatts
- Expected growth:
- Likely to increase 4–5 times by 2030
- This expansion supports digital governance, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and cloud services.
GOVT. CLOUD INFRASTRUCTURE (MEGHRAJ)
- The MeghRaj Cloud Platform enables government departments to host digital services.
- Key figures:
- More than 2,170 ministries and departments use the platform
- This ensures:
- Secure data storage
- Scalable government applications
- Efficient digital governance
FALLING COST OF MOBILE DATA IN INDIA
- India has become one of the cheapest data markets in the world.
- Price trend:
- ₹269 per GB in 2014
- Reduced to ₹8–10 per GB in 2025–26
- As a result, broadband subscriptions crossed 100 crore in November 2025, compared to 13.15 crore a decade ago.
NATIONAL SUPERCOMPUTING MISSION
Under the National Supercomputing Mission:
- 38 supercomputers have been installed across India
- Combined computing capacity: 44 Petaflops
These systems support research in:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Climate modelling
- Biotechnology
- Advanced manufacturing
ROLE OF DIGITAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE
India’s digital ecosystem is supported by major platforms such as:
- Aadhaar
- UPI
- DigiLocker
These systems enable:
- Financial inclusion
- Secure digital transactions
- Efficient delivery of government services
ABOUT THE BHARAT NET PROJECT
- BharatNet is a flagship programme of the Government of India aimed at providing broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats.
- Main Objective
- Provide high-speed broadband access to telecom service providers so they can deliver services in rural and remote areas.
These services include:
- e-Health
- e-Education
- e-Governance
- Digital financial services
PHASES OF BHARATNET PROJECT
Phase I
- Connected 1 lakh Gram Panchayats
- Used existing optical fibre infrastructure
- Completed in December 2017
Phase II (Ongoing)
- Extends connectivity to 5 lakh additional Gram Panchayats
- Uses optical fibre, radio and satellite technologies
Phase III (Ongoing)
- Focuses on future-proofing the network
- Integration of 5G technology
- Increased bandwidth capacity
- Improved last-mile connectivity
FUNDING & IMPLEMENTATION
- The BharatNet project is funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN).
- DBN replaced the earlier Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
- Implementation is carried out by:
- Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the Government of India.
CONCLUSION
The BharatNet programme is transforming rural digital connectivity by linking over 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats with broadband internet. Combined with 5G expansion, public Wi-Fi, data centres and Digital Public Infrastructure, it is helping bridge the digital divide between urban and rural India, supporting the vision of a digitally empowered and inclusive economy.
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