**Executive Summary**
This document presents the answer to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 596 regarding the extension of broadband connectivity in schools, answered on December 3rd, 2025. It details the progress of the BharatNet program in providing Fiber to the Home (FTTH) connections to government-run secondary schools across India. The information includes state/UT-wise data on connections and usage, as well as district-wise data for Andhra Pradesh.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **BharatNet Program:**
* Under the Amended BharatNet program, 1.5 Crore FTTH connections are planned across all States/UTs in the next five years, prioritizing government institutions, including schools, with funding from the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN).
* All government-run secondary schools in Gram Panchayats (GPs)/villages are eligible, subject to demand and network availability.
* **MoU/Agreement with BSNL:**
* BSNL has approached States/UTs for MoUs/Agreements to provide FTTH connections to government schools under BharatNet.
* MoUs/Agreements have been signed with multiple states.
* **FTTH Connection Details:**
* State/UT-wise details of working FTTH connections in government schools, along with customer usage data, are provided in Annexure-I.
* District-wise FTTH connections provided to government schools in Andhra Pradesh are listed in Annexure-II.
* **Subsidy:**
* A total subsidy of approximately Rs. 516 Cr. has been released by DBN to BSNL for providing FTTH connections using BharatNet Pan-India.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Government-run Secondary Schools**
* **Impact:** Increased access to broadband connectivity, enabling improved educational resources and opportunities.
* **Action Required:** Express demand for FTTH connections to BSNL to have connectivity provisions made available.
**Stakeholder: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing FTTH connections in government schools under the BharatNet program.
* **Action Required:** Continue signing MoUs/Agreements with States/UTs and implementing FTTH connections as per the BharatNet program.
**Stakeholder: Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN)**
* **Impact:** Provides funding support for the BharatNet program.
* **Action Required:** Continue disbursing funds to BSNL for FTTH connections.
**Stakeholder: State Governments/Union Territories**
* **Impact:** Collaboration with BSNL is crucial for successful implementation of FTTH connectivity in schools.
* **Action Required:** Sign MoUs/Agreements with BSNL and facilitate the implementation of FTTH connections in government schools.
**Stakeholder: Andhra Pradesh State FiberNet Limited (APSFL)**
* **Impact:** APSFL is responsible for the implementation and utilisation of BharatNet Phase-II in Andhra Pradesh.
* **Action Required:** Continue utilisation of the FTTH connections for government schools.
Key Entities Referenced
BharatNet: A program to provide broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats, with a focus on government institutions, including schools. Amended BharatNet program is mentioned as well.
Fiber to the Home (FTTH): Type of broadband connection being provided under the BharatNet initiative, particularly in government schools.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL): The implementing agency working with States/UTs through MOUs to provide FTTH connections in government schools under BharatNet.
Andhra Pradesh: A state specifically mentioned regarding broadband connectivity in government schools and district-wise FTTH connections under BharatNet.
Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN): Funding source for providing FTTH connections under the Amended BharatNet program.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 596
ANSWERED ON 3RD DECEMBER, 2025
EXTENSION OF BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY IN SCHOOLS
596. SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI:
SHRI DAGGUMALLA PRASADA RAO:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of Government-run secondary schools eligible for extension of broadband
connectivity under Bharat Net initiative, State-wise, district wise in Andhra Pradesh and especially in Bapatla
Lok Sabha Constituency;
(b) the details of the list of the States/UTs that have proposed, under negotiation and presently functional
MoUs with BSNL for implementing broadband connectivity in Government schools over the last ten years;
(c) the details of the number of Government schools being provided fibre to the Home (FTTH)
connections, State-wise and district-wise for Andhra Pradesh and in Bapatla Lok Sabha Constituency;
(d) the details of number of FTTH connections operationalized along with customer usage data of such
connections, State-wise and district-wise for Andhra Pradesh especially in Bapatla Lok Sabha Constituency;
and
(e) the details of funds released to implementation agencies for establishing FTTH connections, State-
wise, district-wise in Andhra Pradesh and from Bapatla Lok Sabha Constituency?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) Under Amended BharatNet program, 1.5 Crore Fiber to the Home (FTTH) connections to be provided
across all States/UTs (including Andhra Pradesh) with priority to cover Government institutions including
schools over the next five years, with funding support from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN). All Government run
secondary schools available in Gram Panchayats (GPs)/villages are eligible for provisioning of FTTH
connectivity under Amended BharatNet program. However, FTTH connections are provided on the basis of
demand and availability of BharatNet network.
(b) Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has approached States/UTs to have a MoU/Agreement to
provide FTTH connections in Government run secondary schools in GPs/villages under BharatNet. So far,
BSNL has signed the MoU/Agreement with Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,
Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Gujarat,
Assam, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, for providing FTTH connections in Government Schools.
(c) & (d) The details of State/UT-wise working FTTH connections using BharatNet, in Government
Schools, along with customer usage data is attached at Annexure-I. The details of District-wise FTTH
connections provided to Government Schools using BharatNet in Andhra Pradesh is attached at Annexure-
II.
(e) A total subsidy of Rs. 516 Cr. (approx.) for providing FTTH connections using BharatNet is
released by DBN to BSNL for Pan-India.
1Annexure-I
Annexure referred to parts (c) & (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 596 for answer on
03.12.2025
Details of State/UT-wise working FTTH connections using BharatNet, provided by BSNL, in
Government Schools, along with customer usage data
S. State/UT No. of FTTH Data Usage in GB (in
No. connections month of Oct’25)
1 Andaman & Nicobar Islands 65 2,330.59
2 Andhra Pradesh* 6,679 31,809.73
3 Assam 261 15,420.23
4 Bihar 2,414 1,56,234.04
5 Chhattisgarh 927 53,172.82
6 Gujarat 4,028 1,57,780.88
7 Haryana 9,469 8,39,343.37
8 Himachal Pradesh 55 5,947.57
9 Jammu & Kashmir 46 4,525
10 Jharkhand 201 17,994.19
11 Karnataka 2,726 94,924.98
12 Kerala 1,710 1,19,926.5
13 Madhya Pradesh 6,706 85,213.08
14 Maharashtra 710 23,558
15 Manipur 29 1,826.07
16 Mizoram 6 362.77
17 Odisha 426 31,807.58
18 Puducherry 37 2,501.69
19 Punjab 12,961 9,15,356.67
20 Rajasthan 5,252 1,73,648.03
21 Tamil Nadu 22 536.61
22 Telangana 220 13,638.91
23 The Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman 8 2,012.98
& Diu
24 Tripura 2 5.54
25 Uttar Pradesh 6,572 3,27,186.79
26 Uttarakhand 2,678 1,39,847.16
27 West Bengal 3,745 1,86,068.69
Total 67,955 34,02,980.47
*includes 6,405 FTTH connections to Government Schools using BharatNet provided by Andhra Pradesh
State FiberNet Limited (APSFL). In Andhra Pradesh, BharatNet Phase-II is implemented under State-led
model through APSFL, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the State Government, which are also responsible
for utilization.
2Annexure-II
Annexure referred to parts (c) & (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 596 for answer on
03.12.2025
Details of District-wise FTTH connections provided to Government Schools in Andhra Pradesh under
BharatNet:
S. No. District No. of FTTH connections
1 Alluri Sitharama Raju 3
2 Anakapalli 371
3 Anantapur 528
4 Annamayya 335
5 Bapatla 164
6 Chittoor 117
7 East Godavari 148
8 Eluru 190
9 Guntur 85
10 Kakinada 359
11 Konaseema 291
12 Krishna 60
13 Kurnool 135
14 Nandyal 4
15 NTR 255
16 Palnadu 105
17 Parvathipuram Manyam 257
18 Prakasam 168
19 SPSR Nellore 835
20 Sri Sathya Sai 188
21 Srikakulam 567
22 Tirupati 15
23 Visakhapatnam 153
24 Vizianagaram 753
25 West Godavari 200
26 YSR Kadapa 393
Total 6,679
*****
3