As of December 10, 2025, the BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) across the country. The total number of GPs undertaken under BharatNet Phase I & II are 2,22,341, out of which 2,14,904 GPs are Service Ready. As of August 4, 2023, the Amended BharatNet Program has been approved to provide optical fiber cable connectivity to approximately 2.64 lakh GPs and approximately 3.8 lakhs non-GP villages on demand basis. More than 94,056 villages have been provided FTTH connections under BharatNet. The total number of GPs undertaken under BharatNet Phase-II are 1,02,133, out of which 94,725 GPs are Service Ready. The implementation strategy of BharatNet has been revised in Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) and includes: (i) Creation and Upgradation of BharatNet network in ring architecture (ii) Operations & Maintenance of the entire network based on Service Level Agreement (SLA) (iii) Single Project Implementation Agency (PIA) for construction and O&M of the network in a Package (iv) Dedicated Network Operation Centre.
Key Entities Referenced
BharatNet: Government project to provide broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats.
Gram Panchayats: Village-level local self-government in India; a key beneficiary of the BharatNet project.
Ministry of Communications: The primary ministry responsible for the BharatNet project.
Amended BharatNet Program (ABP): Revised strategy to strengthen the maintenance of infrastructure in BharatNet.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1678
ANSWERED ON 10TH DECEMBER, 2025
BHARATNET IMPLEMENTATION BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY TO GRAM
PANCHAYATS
1678. SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI:
SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the present status of BharatNet implementation for providing broadband
connectivity to Gram Panchayats across the country;
(b) the details of the number of villages that have been provided internet access under the project
so far; and
(c) whether the Government has taken any measures to ensure timely completion of Phase-II
and maintenance of infrastructure in remote areas and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband
connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs). The total number of GPs undertaken under BharatNet
Phase I & II are 2,22,341 GPs out of which 2,14,904 GPs are Service Ready. Further, Government
has approved the Amended BharatNet Program on 04.08.2023 through which optical fiber cable
Connectivity is to be provided to ~ 2.64 lakh GPs and ~ 3.8 lakhs non-GP villages on-demand basis.
(b) More than 94,056 villages have been provided FTTH connections under BharatNet.
(c) The total number of GPs undertaken under BharatNet Phase-II are 1,02,133, out of which
94,725 GPs are Service Ready. The implementation strategy of BharatNet has been revised in
Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) and following have been included to strengthen the
maintenance of infrastructure:
(i) Creation and Upgradation of BharatNet network in ring architecture
(ii) Operations & Maintenance of the entire network based on Service Level Agreement
(SLA)
(iii) Single Project Implementation Agency (PIA) for construction and O&M of the network
in a Package
(iv) Dedicated Network Operation Centre
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