**Executive Summary:**
This document summarizes the Ministry of Communication's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1702 regarding digital and broadband connectivity, answered on July 30, 2025. It details the progress of 4G upgrades in villages, the implementation of the BharatNet project, and the provision of broadband connectivity to rural schools. The aim is to enhance digital infrastructure in remote areas.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **4G Coverage:**
* 97.65% of villages (6,29,027 out of 6,44,131) have mobile connectivity as of May 2025.
* 96.80% of villages (6,23,512) have 4G mobile connectivity.
* 18,739 4G sites have been commissioned under Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) funded mobile schemes as of June 2025, covering 26,672 villages/locations.
* **BharatNet Project:**
* The project is being implemented to provide connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) for broadband services.
* The Union Cabinet approved the Amended BharatNet Program for connectivity to all GPs in ring topology and connectivity to about 3.8 Lakh non-GP villages on demand basis.
* 2,14,325 GPs have been made service ready as of June 2025.
* 13,01,193 Fiber to the Home (FTTH) connections have been provided, including connections to rural schools.
* **Rural School Connectivity:**
* The Government of India announced broadband connectivity to all Government secondary schools in rural areas under the BharatNet project as part of Budget 2025.
* The Department of School Education and Literacy advised all States/UTs to enter into an MoU Agreement with BSNL to provide FTTH Internet connections to all Government Schools with computing devices.
* Internet charges can be covered from recurring charges under Samagra Shiksha or other State/UT Government funds.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Rural Communities:**
* Impact: Improved access to high-speed internet and 4G mobile services, enhancing communication and digital inclusion.
* Action Required: Utilize available broadband services for various purposes including education, healthcare, and economic activities.
* **School Children:**
* Impact: Enhanced access to digital education resources and improved learning outcomes.
* Action Required: Engage with available digital resources and leverage improved connectivity for educational purposes.
* **State/UT Governments:**
* Impact: Required to facilitate broadband connectivity to government secondary schools.
* Action Required: Enter into MoU Agreement with BSNL to provide FTTH Internet connections to all Government Schools which have computing devices and allocate funds to cover internet charges.
* **BSNL:**
* Impact: Key provider of FTTH internet connections to government secondary schools.
* Action Required: Collaborate with States/UTs to establish FTTH connections to schools based on MoU agreements.
Key Entities Referenced
Digital Bharat Nidhi DBN: A fund established by the Government of India to finance the provision of high-speed internet and 4G mobile services in rural, remote, and border areas.
4G: Fourth generation of mobile telecommunications technology, offering faster data speeds and improved connectivity.
BharatNet project: A Government of India initiative to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) across the country.
Gram Panchayats GPs: Village level local self-government institutions in India, targeted for broadband connectivity under the BharatNet project.
Fiber to the Home FTTH: A technology used to deliver broadband internet access to individual residences or buildings using optical fiber.
Union Cabinet: The Cabinet of Ministers, the executive body of the Government of India.
Department of School Education and Literacy: A department under the Ministry of Education responsible for school education and literacy programs in India.
BSNL: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, a government-owned telecommunications service provider in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1702
ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2025
DIGITAL AND BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY
1702. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the current percentage of the targeted villages that have been successfully
upgraded to 4G services;
(b) the details of the projected timeline for achieving 100% 4G coverage in the villages that
remain uncovered under the proposed 4G services rollout;
(c) the details of the improvements in network speed and overall connectivity observed in rural
areas post-upgrade;
(d) whether these improvements penetrate all rungs of society, especially the school children,
who are increasingly getting involved in accessing digital education, especially with the new aim of
rural broadband connectivity for rural schools; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) to (e) 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.
1The 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.
*****
2