**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer provided on February 4th, 2026, by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 906 regarding the BharatNet centrally funded/monitored service. It details the funding, implementation, and accountability structure of BharatNet. It highlights the roles of various entities and confirms a revised implementation model approved on August 4th, 2023.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Funding and Ownership:**
* BharatNet is funded by the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Department of Telecommunications.
* Assets created under BharatNet are national assets owned by DBN, accessible to all service providers.
* **Implementation:**
* Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) implemented BharatNet Phase I & II.
* Eight States including Telangana were responsible for implementing BharatNet Phase-II.
* A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with states like Telangana defines roles and responsibilities.
* A revised implementation model for BharatNet was approved on 04.08.2023.
* Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) as the Project Management Agency (PMA) has signed agreements with Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs).
* **Network Utilization (as of 31.12.2025):**
* FTTH connections Provided: 14,07,784
* Dark Fibre leased: 1,19,905 fibre Kms
* Leasing of Bandwidth: 3,98,841 Mbps
* Data consumption: 1,89,448 TB
* **Monitoring:**
* Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) maintains the Output-Outcome Monitoring Framework (OOMF).
* BharatNet Project is being monitored by the Government, State Broadband Committees (SBCs) and District Level Telecom Committees (DLTCs).
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments (including Telangana)**
* **Impact:** They are responsible for implementing BharatNet Phase-II and adhere to the roles and responsibilities outlined in the MoU.
* **Action Required:** Fulfill their responsibilities as defined in the MoU and as implementers of BharatNet Phase II.
**Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL)**
* **Impact:** Acted as the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and was responsible for implementing BharatNet Phase I & II.
* **Action Required:** Maintain adherence to SLAs for network operation and maintenance.
**Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)**
* **Impact:** BSNL, as the Project Management Agency (PMA), oversees the Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs).
* **Action Required:** Uphold its agreements with Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs).
**Department of Telecommunications (DoT)**
* **Impact:** The DoT funds and oversees BharatNet through the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN).
* **Action Required:** Continue funding and monitoring the project's progress and outcomes.
**Service Providers**
* **Impact:** Service providers can access the national assets created under BharatNet on a non-discriminatory basis for service provision, including last-mile service delivery.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to SLAs for network operation and maintenance.
Key Entities Referenced
BharatNet: Centrally funded and monitored project for last-mile service delivery and broadband connectivity.
Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN): Funding source for BharatNet under the Department of Telecommunications; owns assets created under BharatNet.
Department of Telecommunications: The department under which BharatNet is funded and implemented. It also oversees BBNL.
Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL): Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under the Department of Telecommunications that implemented BharatNet Phase I & II.
Telangana: One of the eight States given the responsibility of implementing BharatNet Phase-II.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 906
TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH FEBRUARY, 2026
BHARATNET CENTRALLY FUNDED/MONITORED SERVICE
906. DR. MALLU RAVI:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government acknowledges that BharatNet is centrally funded and centrally
monitored, yet responsibility for last-mile service delivery is routinely attributed to States and if so,
the details thereof;
(b) whether this results in a diffused accountability structure where neither Centre nor State can
be held responsible for non-functional connectivity in constituencies like Nagarkurnool and if so, the
details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has any plan/penalty or any corrective mechanism exists when fiber
is laid and lit but services remain unavailable and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government tracks such “asset-created-but-unused” cases and if so, the details
thereof;
(e) whether continuation of expenditure without service outcomes violates principles of
outcome-based governance; and
(f) the steps proposed to fix this accountability gap?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) BharatNet is funded by the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Department of
Telecommunications. Assets created under BharatNet are national assets owned by DBN accessible
on a non-discriminatory basis to all service providers for service provision including last-mile service
delivery.
(b) Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under
Department of Telecommunications implemented BharatNet Phase I & II. Eight States including
Telangana were given the responsibility of implementing BharatNet Phase-II. In Nagarkurnool
district 415 Gram Panchayats (GPs) have been made service-ready
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with States including Telangana defines roles and
responsibilities of the parties and are available on https://usof.gov.in/en/project-documents.
(c) Government has approved a revised implementation model for BharatNet under the Amended
BharatNet Program on 04.08.2023. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) as the Project
Management Agency (PMA) has signed agreements with Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs)
1which includes Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for Operation & Maintenance of the network as
per RFP provisions. RFP available on
https://tender.bsnl.co.in/bsnltenders/bsnltender/tender_achieve_view_detail_1.jsp?&tenderID=505
43
(d) to (f) The details of utilization of BharatNet network as on 31.12.2025 is as follows:
Sl. No. Item Quantity
1 FTTH connections Provided (no’s) 14,07,784
2 Dark Fibre leased (fibre Kms) 1,19,905
3 Leasing of Bandwidth (in Mbps) 3,98,841
4 Data consumption (in TB) 1,89,448
Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), which is an attached office of
NITI Aayog maintains the Output-Outcome Monitoring Framework (OOMF) which includes
indicators for digital connectivity programs including DBN funded projects. The details are available
on the DMEO website (https://dmeo.gov.in/output-outcome-framework?ministry=55&tid_1=223).
BharatNet Project is being monitored by the Government, State Broadband Committees (SBCs) and
District Level Telecom Committees (DLTCs).
*****
2