**Summary:**
As of May 2025, the Ministry of Communications reports significant progress in expanding mobile and broadband connectivity across India. Mobile connectivity reaches 97.65% (629,027) of the country's 644,131 villages, with 96.80% (623,512) having 4G mobile connectivity.
The Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) is funding schemes to further extend high-speed internet and 4G services to rural, remote, and border areas. As of June 2025, 18,739 4G sites, including 1,276 upgrades, have been commissioned under DBN-funded mobile schemes, covering 26,672 villages/locations.
The BharatNet project is underway to connect all Gram Panchayats (GPs) with broadband services like WiFi Hotspots and Fiber to the Home (FTTH) connections. The Union Cabinet has approved an Amended BharatNet Program to connect all GPs in a ring topology, upgrade the existing network, and connect approximately 3.8 lakh non-GP villages on demand. As of June 2025, 214,325 GPs are service-ready under BharatNet, with 1,301,193 FTTH connections established, including connections to rural schools.
Budget 2025 includes a provision for broadband connectivity to all government secondary schools in rural areas via BharatNet. The Department of School Education and Literacy has advised States/UTs to sign MoUs with BSNL to provide FTTH internet connections to all government schools with computing devices, using existing funds from Samagra Shiksha or other State/UT government funds to cover internet charges.
This information was provided by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Communications: The Indian government ministry responsible for communications and information technology.
Digital Bharat Nidhi: A fund (DBN) used by the Government of India to finance schemes for high-speed internet and 4G mobile services in rural, remote, and border areas.
BharatNet project: A project implemented in India to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and non-GP villages.
Union Cabinet: The cabinet of ministers in the Government of India.
Gram Panchayats: Local governing bodies at the village or small-town level in India.
Department of School Education and Literacy: The department under the Ministry of Education responsible for school education and literacy programs in India.
BSNL: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, an Indian state-owned telecommunications company.
Samagra Shiksha: An integrated scheme for school education in India, encompassing pre-school to senior secondary levels.
Ministry of Communications
Digital and Broadband Connectivity
Posted On: 30 JUL 2025 4:14PM by PIB Delhi
As of May 2025, out of 6,44,131 villages in the country (as per data of Registrar General of India), 6,29,027
villages i.e. 97.65% villages are covered with mobile connectivity and out of these, 6,23,512 villages i.e.
96.80% villages have 4G mobile connectivity.
Government, through funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), is implementing various schemes for
provision of high-speed internet/data and 4G mobile services in the rural, remote and border areas
of the country. As on June 2025, 18,739 4G sites (including 1276 sites upgraded to 4G) have been
commissioned under DBN funded mobile schemes, covering 26,672 villages/locations in the
country.
BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide connectivity to all the Gram
Panchayats (GPs) for broadband services, such as Wi-Fi Hotspots, Fibre to the Home (FTTH)
connections etc. Further, the Union Cabinet has approved Amended BharatNet Program for
provisioning of connectivity to all GPs in the country in ring topology including upgrading existing
network and connectivity to about 3.8 Lakh non-GP villages on demand basis. As of June 2025,
2,14,325 GPs have been made service ready under BharatNet project in the country. So far,
13,01,193 Fiber to the Home (FTTH) connections have been provided under BharatNet project in
the country, including the rural schools.
The Government of India, as part of the Budget 2025, has announced provision of broadband
connectivity to all Government secondary schools in rural areas under BharatNet project to enhance
digital infrastructure in remote areas. An advisory was issued by the Department of School
Education and Literacy to all the States & UTs to enter into an MoU/ Agreement with BSNL and
provide FTTH Internet connection to all the Government Schools which have computing devices.
States/UTs have been advised that the Internet Charges can be met from recurring charges being
released under Samagra Shiksha or can be met from any other State/UT Government funds.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr.
Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
****
Samrat/Allen
(Release ID: 2150173)