Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Communications addressed a question regarding internet and WiFi availability for farmers. As of May 31, 2025, a vast majority of Indian villages (6,24,147 out of 6,44,131) have 3G/4G internet access. The BharatNet project aims to connect all Gram Panchayats and villages with broadband, utilizing FTTH connections for various online services, including agricultural information for farmers. Several projects, including 4G saturation and BharatNet, are underway to improve connectivity, particularly in West Bengal.
Key Points / Main Content:
Internet and WiFi Availability:
* As of May 31, 2025, 6,24,147 out of 6,44,131 villages in India have 3G/4G internet.
* 13,01,193 FTTH connections commissioned nationwide through BharatNet, including 58,251 in West Bengal.
* FTTH connections support e-education, e-health, e-governance, e-commerce, and agricultural knowledge access.
West Bengal Specifics:
* 40,935 out of 40,971 villages in West Bengal have 3G/4G internet via mobile network.
* Projects to improve mobile coverage and internet connectivity in West Bengal include:
* 4G Saturation: 14 mobile tower sites radiating.
* BoP/BiP: 4 mobile sites radiating.
* BharatNet: 2677 Gram Panchayats connected by Optical Fibre; Amended BharatNet to cover all Gram Panchayats via Optical Fibre Ring topology is planned.
Financial Approvals:
* Projects worth Rs. 2716 crores approved for 24 states, including Rs. 232 crores for West Bengal under the Scheme for Special Assistance to states for Capital Investment 2022-23, Part V Optical Fiber Cable.
PM-WANI Initiative:
* 3,08,283 PM-WANI WiFi Hotspots installed across India, including 4,139 in West Bengal.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
* Impact: Enhanced access to agricultural information, updates, and online services for knowledge enhancement.
* Action Required: Utilize available internet and WiFi facilities to access online resources and stay informed about agricultural developments.
Gram Panchayats:
* Impact: Improved connectivity through BharatNet and FTTH connections, enabling better access to e-governance and other online services for residents.
* Action Required: Support the implementation of BharatNet projects and promote the use of available online services among residents.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT):
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and overseeing projects like BharatNet, 4G Saturation, and PM-WANI to improve internet connectivity.
* Action Required: Continue to execute planned projects, monitor progress, and ensure effective utilization of allocated funds.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN: Member of Parliament who raised the question about internet and WiFi facility for farmers.
West Bengal: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of internet and WiFi connectivity for farmers.
DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR: Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, who provided the answer to the parliamentary question.
BharatNet project: A project implemented to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages in the country.
Gram Panchayats: Village level local self-government institutions in India, targeted for broadband connectivity under the BharatNet project.
Digital Bharat Nidhi: A fund supporting projects like 4G saturation, Border Out Posts (BoP), Border Intelligence Posts (BiP), and BharatNet project to improve mobile coverage and internet connectivity in villages.
Prime Ministers Wi Fi Access Network Interface (PMWANI): A framework to proliferate Broadband through Public WiFi networks.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): The department that has proposed to proliferate Broadband through Public WiFi networks under the framework of Prime Ministers Wi Fi Access Network Interface PMWANI.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2936
ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2025
INTERNET AND WI-FI FACILITY FOR FARMERS
2936. SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has provided internet and Wi-Fi facility in all the villages of the
country for the benefit of farmers so that they can increase their knowledge about agriculture sector
and keep them updated about new developments in agriculture sector;
(b) if so, the measures/actions being taken by the Government on this issue especially in the
State of West Bengal; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor and by when the target of providing internet and Wi-Fi facility in
all the villages across the country be achieved?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) As per RGI (Registrar General of India) data, out of the total 6,44,131 villages in the country,
6,24,147 villages are having internet facility (3G/4G) through mobile coverage network as on
31.05.2025.
(b) & (c) BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband
connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages in the country including West Bengal.
A total of 13,01,193 no. of FTTH connections have been commissioned in the country including
58,251 no. of FTTH connections of West Bengal through BharatNet. The Wi-Fi technology enabled
FTTH connections are being used for accessing the all type of online services such as e-education,
e-health, e-governance, e-commerce, etc. including the farmers in increasing their knowledge about
agriculture and keep them updated about new development in agriculture. As on May 2025, out of
the total 40,971 villages in West Bengal, 40,935 villages are having internet facility (3G/4G)
through mobile network coverage.
Also, various steps such as 4G saturation project, Border Out Posts (BoP)-Border Intelligence Posts
(BiP) project, BharatNet project etc under Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) are being taken up by to
improve the mobile coverage and internet connectivity in villages of West Bengal.
Sl. Name of Planned Remarks
No Project/ Scheme
1 4G Saturation 35 14 mobile tower sites are radiating
2 BoP-BiP 35 4 mobile sites are radiating
3 BharatNet 3340 2677 Gram Panchayats are connected by Optical
Fibre. Amended BharatNet to cover all Gram
Panchayats on Optical Fibre Ring topology is
planned.
1Further in compliance with Part-V (Optical Fiber Cable) of the Scheme named as “Scheme
for Special Assistance to states for Capital Investment 2022-23”, approval has been received for
projects amounting Rs. 2716 crores in respect of 24 states including Rs. 232 crores for the state of
West Bengal.
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). As on date 3,08,283 PM Wani Wi-Fi Hotspots are installed
across the country including 4,139 in West Bengal.
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