Executive Summary:
The Department of Telecommunications addresses a parliamentary inquiry regarding high-speed internet access in India, particularly in rural areas and Punjab. As of July 31, 2025, multiple licenses have been issued to service providers nationwide and within Punjab. The government is actively implementing projects funded by the Digital Bharat Nidhi to enhance internet connectivity in underserved regions, with ongoing efforts to expand mobile and broadband services.
Key Points / Main Content:
Licensing for Internet Service Providers:
* 237 National Area licenses authorize internet services across India, including Punjab.
* 295 Access service and 1208 Internet service licenses issued for specified Telecom Circle areas; Punjab has 10 and 15 respectively.
* 536 Access Service and 1122 Internet Service licenses issued for specified Secondary Switching Areas (SSA); Punjab has 9 and 8 respectively.
Government Initiatives for Enhanced Connectivity:
* BharatNet project aims to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages. The Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) approved on August 4, 2023, focuses on upgrading the existing network, creating new networks in remaining GPs, and providing operation and maintenance for 10 years. BSNL has a target of 1.5 crore FTTH connections in five years.
* Targeted schemes are in place for high-speed internet and mobile services in uncovered rural areas, including Comprehensive Telecom Development Plans for the North Eastern Region and Islands, schemes for LWE-affected areas, Aspirational Districts, border villages, and the 4G Saturation scheme. 21,748 mobile towers commissioned as of June 2025.
* Submarine optical fiber cables commissioned between Chennai and Andaman Nicobar Islands (August 10, 2020) and between Mainland Kochi and Lakshadweep Islands (January 3, 2024) to improve connectivity in these regions.
* The Scheme for Special Assistance to states for Capital Investment 2022-23 allocates Rs 3000 crores for extending BharatNet to villages for Last Mile Connectivity (LMC) to various institutions and households.
* 4. 86 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) installed across the country as of June 30, 2025.
* The PM-WANI framework is being used to proliferate Broadband through Public WiFi networks, with 3,53,105 PM-WANI WiFi Hotspots installed.
Internet Access Statistics:
* All 751 District headquarters have internet facilities.
* 6,26,055 out of 6,44,131 villages have internet access (3G/4G) as of June 30, 2025.
Impact Analysis:
Service Providers:
* Impact: Licensed service providers are authorized to provide internet services. They can utilize the infrastructure created under the BharatNet project.
* Action Required: Service providers should leverage BharatNet infrastructure for broadband services.
BSNL:
* Impact: BSNL is nominated as the Project Management Agency for BharatNet and tasked with providing 1.5 crore FTTH connections.
* Action Required: BSNL needs to implement the BharatNet project and achieve the FTTH connection target.
Citizens in Rural Areas:
* Impact: Increased access to high-speed internet and mobile services through government initiatives.
* Action Required: Citizens can avail of the improved internet infrastructure and services.
State Governments:
* Impact: The Scheme for Special Assistance to states provides funds for extending BharatNet to villages.
* Action Required: State governments can utilize the allocated funds to extend BharatNet for Last Mile Connectivity.
Key Entities Referenced
Punjab, India: A state in India, specifically mentioned as the area of focus for high-speed internet access.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): The government department responsible for issuing licenses for internet services and overseeing telecommunications development projects.
BharatNet Project: A project to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages in the country.
Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN): Formerly known as Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), it provides funding for high-capacity internet broadband connectivity and mobile services in remote rural areas and islands.
Gram Panchayats (GPs): Local self-government organizations at the village or small-town level in India, targeted for broadband connectivity under the BharatNet project.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India: An Indian Union Territory, connected to Chennai via submarine optical fibre cable for high-speed internet access.
Lakshadweep Islands, India: An Indian Union Territory, connected to Mainland Kochi via submarine optical fibre cable for high-speed internet access.
BSNL: A telecommunications service provider nominated as the Project Management Agency for BharatNet, with a target to provide 1.50 crore FTTH connections.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4390
ANSWERED ON 20TH AUGUST, 2025
HIGH SPEED INTERNET IN PUNJAB
4390. SHRI MALVINDER SINGH KANG:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of agencies and service providers providing high speed internet connections in
rural areas of the country especially in the State of Punjab;
(b) the details of the measures taken/being taken to accelerate the work of providing internet
across the country;
(c) the details of the States and districts where there is very little or no access to internet
facilities;
(d) the reasons for non-availability of high speed internet services in rural and backward areas
of the country; and
(e) the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard so far?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) As of 31.07.2025, 237 licenses for National Area have been issued by the Department of
Telecommunications, which are authorized to provide internet services across the country including
in the state of Punjab.
A total of 295 Access service and 1208 Internet service licenses have been issued by the
Department of Telecommunications, which are authorized to provide internet services in the
specified Telecom Circle area of the country. For, the state of Punjab, this license count is 10 for
Access service and 15 for Internet service.
A total of 536 Access Service licenses and 1122 Internet Service licenses have been issued
by the Department of Telecommunications, which are authorized to provide internet services in the
specified Secondary Switching Area (SSA) of the country. For, the state of Punjab, this license count
is 9 for Access service and 8 for Internet service.
(b) & (e) For providing high-capacity internet / broadband connectivity and mobile services
in remote & rural villages and islands in the country that currently lack coverage, a number of steps
& projects have been taken up with funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) [erstwhile Universal
Service Obligation Fund (USOF)], Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Details of the major
projects are as follows:
i. BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband
connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages in the country. The infrastructure
created under BharatNet project is a national asset, accessible on a non-discriminatory basis
to the Service Providers, and the same can be utilized to provide broadband services, such
as Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections, leased lines, dark fibre, backhaul to mobile
towers, etc. On 04.08.2023, the Union Cabinet has approved the Amended BharatNet
Program (ABP) under Design, Built, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) model, for up-
1gradation of existing network of BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II, creation of network in
balance GPs, Operation and Maintenance for 10 years and utilization. The connectivity to
remaining non-GP villages is proposed to be provided on demand basis from their respective
GPs. BSNL will have target of providing 1.50 crore FTTH connections to households in
next five years. BSNL has been nominated as the Project Management Agency. As of Jun-
2025; 13,01,193 FTTH connections have been provided by BSNL & other service providers
under BharatNet project in the country.
ii. For provision of high-speed internet/data and Mobile Services in uncovered remote & rural
areas of the country, various targeted schemes/projects have been implemented.
Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for mobile connectivity in the North
Eastern Region, Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for Islands (Andaman &
Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands), Scheme for providing mobile services in Left Wing
Extremism (LWE) affected areas, Schemes for providing mobile services in Aspirational
Districts, Scheme for providing mobile services in the border villages and other priority
areas, 4G Saturation scheme to provide mobile coverage in all uncovered villages etc.. The
project for saturation of 4G mobile services for providing 4G mobile services in uncovered
villages in remote and difficult areas of the country is also under implementation at a total
cost of Rs. 26,316 Cr. Till Jun-2025, 21,748 mobile towers have been commissioned in the
country under various Government funded mobile projects.
iii. Commissioning of submarine optical fibre cable on 10.08.2020 between Chennai and
Andaman & Nicobar Islands (2312 Km) for providing high speed internet/data connectivity
to Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Commissioning of Submarine OFC connectivity between
Mainland (Kochi) and Lakshadweep Islands (1869 km) (Total 11 Islands; Kavaratti,
Kalpeni, Agatti, Amini, Androth, Minicoy, Bangaram, Bitra, Chetlat, Kiltan and Kadmath)
on 03.01.2024. Creation of 225Km OFC network in Lakshadweep Islands for provision of
FTTH & other services. These optical fibre cable projects have facilitated faster roll out of
fixed line broadband/internet services, mobile services (4G/5G) and other high-speed data
services in the Islands.
Government of India has launched a redesigned and expanded Scheme for the year 2022-23
named as “Scheme for Special Assistance to states for Capital Investment 2022-23”. A total amount
of Rs 3000 crores was earmarked for Part-V (Optical Fiber Cable) of the Scheme for Special
Assistance to states for Capital Investment 2022-23. Funds can be used to extend BharatNet to
Villages from the GPs covered as at present for Last Mile Connectivity (LMC) on the OFC to
Government Institutions (like School, Health Centre, Anganwadi, Police Station, Krishi Vikash
Kendra, Post Office, ration Shop etc.), Private Institutions and Households from Bharat Net
network.
Also, 5G services have also been rolled out in all States/ UTs across the country and as on
30.06.2025, 4.86 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) have been installed by the Telecom
Service Providers (TSPs) across the country.
The Union Cabinet has also approved the proposal of Department of Telecom (DoT) to
proliferate Broadband through Public Wi-Fi networks under the framework of Prime Minister’s Wi-
Fi Access Network Interface (PMWANI). Currently, 3,53,105 PM Wani Wi-Fi Hotspots are installed
across the country.
(c) & (d) As per RGI (Registrar General of India) data, out of the total 751 District
headquarters, all are having internet facility and out of 6,44,131 villages in the country, 6,26,055
villages are having internet facility (3G/4G) through mobile coverage network across the country as
on 30.06.2025
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