BharatNet Project | UPSC Governance Notes

BharatNet is a major project by the Ministry of Communications to bring fast fibre internet to about 2.5 lakh village panchayats. It helps rural communities access online education, healthcare, government services, and job opportunities.

By the end of this blog, you will understand BharatNet’s objectives, implementation phases, challenges, and the progress made so far. This topic holds high relevance for UPSC under GS Paper III (Infrastructure, ICT, Governance, and Digital India), and is important for both Prelims and Mains

BharatNet is one of the world's largest rural broadband connectivity initiatives launched by the Government of India to provide high-speed internet access to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. 

Originally launched as the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) in October 2011 and rebranded as BharatNet in 2015, the project stands as a cornerstone of India's Digital India vision. 

• Implementing Agency: Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), now merged with BSNL.
• Target Coverage: 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats and 6.5 lakh villages.
• Total Funding: Rs 42,068 crore for Phase I and II; Rs 1,39,579 crore for Amended BharatNet Program​.
• Technology: Optical Fibre Cable (OFC), radio, and satellite technologies.
• Network Architecture: Ring topology design for enhanced redundancy and reliability.

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BharatNet aims to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural India by providing non-discriminatory access to high-speed broadband connectivity.

• Provide affordable high-speed broadband connectivity of at least 100 Mbps to all Gram Panchayats across India​.
• Enable delivery of e-governance, e-health, e-education, e-banking, and e-commerce services in rural and remote areas​.
• Connect all 6.4 lakh villages with reliable, quality, high-speed broadband infrastructure​.
• Empower rural communities through digital access to information, services, and opportunities​.
• Foster inclusive economic growth by providing digital infrastructure for entrepreneurship and employment generation​.
• Strengthen governance through transparent delivery of government welfare schemes and direct benefit transfers.

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BharatNet serves as the backbone of India's Digital India vision, transforming rural connectivity and enabling inclusive development.

• Bridges the digital divide between urban and rural India by providing equitable access to high-speed internet​.
• Empowers rural citizens with access to information, digital services, and online opportunities previously unavailable.
• Facilitates online education, e-learning platforms, and virtual classrooms for students in rural areas​.
• Enables telemedicine, e-consultation, digital health records, and remote healthcare services.
• Creates opportunities for digital entrepreneurship, e-commerce, and access to online markets.
• Empowers farmers with real-time agricultural information, weather forecasts, market prices, and best practices.
• Enables efficient delivery of e-governance services, online application submissions, and access to government schemes.
• Facilitates Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) and digital payments for welfare programs.

BharatNet is being implemented through a phased approach to ensure systematic coverage across the country.

Phase I (2011-2017)

• Target: Connect 1 lakh Gram Panchayats using optical fibre cables​.
• Implementation Model: Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) - BSNL, RailTel, and PGCIL​.
• Methodology: Utilisation of existing fibre infrastructure of CPSUs and laying incremental optical fibre to bridge connectivity gaps​.
• Completion: December 2017, with over 1 lakh GPs connected​.
• Scope Expansion: Later expanded to 1.25 lakh GPs as per Cabinet approval of 19 July 2017​.
• Challenges: Inadequate planning, design deficiencies, and a lack of state participation delayed implementation from 2011 to 2014.

Phase II (2017-2023):

• Target: Connect an additional 1.5 lakh Gram Panchayats​
• Implementation Models: Multiple models, including the State-led Model, Private Sector Model, and CPSU Model​.
• Technology Mix: Optimal mix of optical fibre, radio, and satellite technologies​.
• States Covered: Different states implemented through various models - 8 states under the State-led model, 4 states under the CPSU model, and 2 states under the Private-led model​.
• Last-Mile Connectivity: Wi-Fi hotspots and other suitable broadband technologies at the Gram Panchayat level​.
• Achievement: 2.13 lakh GPs connected by the extended deadline of August 2023.

Phase III / Amended BharatNet Program (2023-2025):

• Target: Connect all 6.5 lakh villages and provide optical fibre connectivity to 2.64 lakh GPs in ring topology.
• Network Upgrade: Transition from linear to ring topology for better resilience and reduced latency.
• Technology Integration: IP-MPLS network with routers at Blocks and GPs for enhanced efficiency​.
• 5G Integration: Focus on integrating 5G technologies and increasing bandwidth capacity.
• Implementation Model: Design, Build, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) model with BSNL as the single project management agency.

BharatNet has made significant strides in connecting rural India to high-speed broadband, though implementation has faced multiple deadline extensions.

• Service-Ready Gram Panchayats: 2,18,347 Gram Panchayats have been made service-ready across the country (2025).
• Optical Fibre Cable Laid: Over 6.92 lakh km of OFC network established across the country.
• FTTH Connections: 12.21 lakh to 13.01 lakh Fibre-To-The-Home connections commissioned for last-mile connectivity.
• Wi-Fi Hotspots: 1.04 lakh Wi-Fi hotspots installed at Gram Panchayats to ensure internet access.
• Amended BharatNet Program (2023): Approved in August 2023 for 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats in ring topology.
• Digital Literacy Impact: Over 6.39 crore individuals trained by March 31, 2024, in digital literacy through the PMGDISHA program.

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Despite ambitious goals, BharatNet has faced significant implementation and operational challenges, delaying its completion.

• Difficult terrain, particularly in northeastern and hilly states, poses connectivity challenges​.
• Limited power supply infrastructure in rural areas affects network equipment operation.
• Complex approval processes require coordination across various government departments.
• Underutilisation of allocated funds, with actual spending consistently falling below budget estimates.
• Limited digital literacy among the rural population is restricting the utilisation of broadband services​.
• Lack of awareness about available e-services and digital opportunities.

Strategic measures and policy interventions are essential to overcome existing challenges. The GOI must ensure BharatNet achieves its objectives of universal broadband connectivity and meaningful digital inclusion across rural India.

• Incorporate automatic RoW permissions granted in 2025 to fast-track optical fibre laying.
• Implementation of the PPP model to bring private sector expertise.
• Engage village-level entrepreneurs (BharatNet Udyamis) for last-mile connectivity.
• Utilise C-DOT's indigenous Network Management System (NMS) for continuous monitoring and fault management.

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