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BharatNet Project

March 9, 2026

Recently, the government said that through BharatNet project India expanded its optical fibre networks, 5G services and digital public infrastructure to more than 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats.

About BharatNet Project:

  • It is project of the Government of India aimed at providing broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country.
  • Objective: The primary objective is to provide unrestricted access to broadband connectivity to all the telecom service providers.
    • This enables access providers like mobile operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Cable TV operators, and content providers to launch various services such as e-health, e-education, and e-governance in rural and remote India. 
  • Phases of BharatNet Project:
    • Phase I: Focused on laying optical fibre cables to connect 1 lakh Gram Panchayats by utilising existing infrastructure. This phase was completed in 2017.
    • Phase II(ongoing): Expanded coverage to an additional 1.5 lakh Gram Panchayats using optical fibre, radio, and satellite technologies.
    • Phase III (ongoing): Aims at future-proofing the network by integrating 5G technologies, increasing bandwidth capacity, and ensuring robust last-mile connectivity.
  • Funding: It is primarily funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), which is a fund that replaced the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
  • Implementation: It is being executed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) namely Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL).

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