**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the Indian government's measures to enhance broadband connectivity in rural Tamil Nadu under the National Broadband Mission (NBM). It provides details on initiatives like the Centralized Right of Way (RoW) Portal, uniform RoW permissions, and the BharatNet project. The BharatNet project is scheduled for completion by March 2027.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Broadband Mission (NBM) Implementation:**
* Government has taken measures under NBM to improve broadband connectivity and bridge the digital divide in rural Tamil Nadu.
* **Right of Way (RoW) Streamlining:**
* Centralized RoW Portal launched on May 14, 2022, to streamline RoW permissions for telecom infrastructure deployment (OFC laying, telecom tower installation).
* Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024, effective January 1, 2025, make RoW permission processes and applicable charges uniform nationwide.
* RoW Portal upgraded to align with RoW Rules 2024 in most states, including Tamil Nadu.
* **BharatNet Project and Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN):**
* Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is ensuring stable broadband connectivity in rural and remote areas through DBN.
* BharatNet project is providing broadband to Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages.
* High-speed internet/broadband and mobile services (including 4G) schemes are implemented in remote areas.
* Submarine optical fiber cables were laid between Chennai-Andaman & Nicobar and Kochi-Lakshadweep to improve internet connectivity.
* **BharatNet in Tamil Nadu:**
* 11,866 out of 12,525 GPs in Tamil Nadu are service-ready as of December 12, 2025.
* 9,686 Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) deployed in GPs and Blocks to provide FTTH connectivity to households.
* Timeline for the completion of the BharatNet project is March 2027.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Department of Telecommunications (DoT)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for ensuring stable broadband connectivity in rural and remote areas, overseeing the implementation of the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN).
* **Action Required:** Continue expanding broadband connectivity through the BharatNet project and other initiatives.
**Stakeholder: Telecom Infrastructure Providers (OFC Laying and Tower Installation Companies)**
* **Impact:** Streamlined processes for obtaining Right of Way (RoW) permissions, leading to faster project execution.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the Centralized RoW Portal for submitting applications and adhere to the Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024.
**Stakeholder: Citizens in Rural Areas of Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Enhanced broadband connectivity and bridging the digital divide, providing access to high-speed internet and mobile services.
* **Action Required:** Benefit from increased access to digital services.
**Stakeholder: Government of Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Facilitating digital infrastructure expansion by aligning with RoW Rules 2024.
* **Action Required:** Support the implementation of the BharatNet project.
**Stakeholder: Gram Panchayats (GPs) in Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Becoming service-ready with broadband connectivity and Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) for FTTH access.
* **Action Required:** Provision service connections to households in GPs and Blocks.
Key Entities Referenced
National Broadband Mission (NBM): A government initiative aimed at enhancing broadband connectivity and bridging the digital divide, particularly in rural areas.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India where the measures to enhance broadband connectivity are implemented under the National Broadband Mission (NBM).
Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024: Rules streamlining the RoW permissions for deployment of telecom infrastructure, further upgraded in the majority of states in accordance.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): The department responsible for ensuring stable broadband connectivity in rural and remote areas and bridging the digital divide.
BharatNet: A project under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) providing broadband to Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2825
ANSWERED ON 17TH DECEMBER, 2025
NATIONAL BROADBAND MISSION (NBM)
2825. SHRI NAVASKANI K:
SHRI C N ANNADURAI:
SHRI SELVAM G:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken measures under the National Broadband Mission (NBM)
to enhance broadband connectivity and bridge the digital divide in the rural areas of Tamil Nadu;
(b) if so, the details of broadband and Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) connectivity projects
undertaken under BharatNet in different districts of Tamil Nadu;
(c) whether the Government proposes to integrate the Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal and the
Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024 with the ongoing digital infrastructure expansion
in Tamil Nadu to ensure efficient Right of Way (RoW) clearances and faster execution of broadband
projects; and
(d) the time by which the Government proposes to make all the Gram Panchayats in all districts
of Tamil Nadu fully service-ready under the BharatNet project?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) & (c) Yes. The Government has taken the following key measures to improve broadband
connectivity in rural areas and bridge the digital divide by implementing the National Broadband
Mission (NBM) in the country, including the state of Tamil Nadu.
i. Launched the Centralized Right of Way (RoW) Portal on May 14, 2022, thus facilitating
the streamlining of the RoW permissions for the deployment of telecom infrastructure
viz. Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) laying and telecom tower installation.
ii. Processes to obtain RoW permissions and applicable charges were further made uniform
through Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules 2024 under ‘The
Telecommunications Act, 2023’. The rules are effective from January 01, 2025. The rules
are further streamlining and expediting the telecom infrastructure deployment in the
country. The RoW portal has been further upgraded in the majority of states in accordance
with RoW Rules 2024 including the state of Tamil Nadu.
1(b) & (d) The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is further ensuring stable broadband
connectivity in rural & remote areas (including tribal belts) and bridging the digital divide through
the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN). Key initiatives include:
i. The BharatNet project providing broadband to Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages (on
demand).
ii. Various schemes for high-speed internet/broadband and mobile services (including 4G)
in remote areas, such as the North-East, Islands, LWE (Left-Wing Extremism)-affected
regions, Aspirational Districts, and border villages.
iii. Submarine optical fiber cables were laid between Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar
(2312 km) and Kochi and Lakshadweep (1869 km), enabling faster internet connectivity.
Under the state-led model of BharatNet project in Tamil Nadu, a total of 11,866 GPs out of 12525
have been made service-ready (as of December 12, 2025) and for service provisioning, 9,686 Optical
Line Terminals (OLTs) have been deployed in GPs and Blocks to provide FTTH connectivity to
households. The district-wise details of OFC laid are given in Annexure-I. The timeline for the
completion of the BharatNet project is March 2027.
2Annexure-I
Annexure referred to in Part (b) & (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2825 for
Answer on 17.12.2025
S.no Districts Total OFC laid in route KM
1 Chengalpattu 1382
2 Kancheepuram 1180
3 Krishnagiri 1924
4 Ranipet 1224
5 Tirupathur 929
6 Tiruvallur 1950
7 Tiruvannamalai 3472
8 Vellore 844
9 Ariyalur 867
10 Cuddalore 2484
11 Perambalur 683
12 Villupuram 2886
13 Kallakurichi 1739
14 Salem 1653
15 Erode 1197
16 The Nilgiris 292
17 Dharmapuri 1352
18 Coimbatore 1231
19 Karur 994
20 Mayiladuthurai 890
21 Nagapattinam 734
22 Namakkal 1431
23 Pudukottai 2235
24 Thanjavur 2337
25 Tiruchirapalli 2153
26 Tiruppur 1467
27 Tiruvarur 1743
28 Dindigul 1538
29 Kanniyakumari 407
30 Madurai 1498
31 Ramanathapuram 1700
32 Sivagangai 2021
33 Tenkasi 1171
34 Theni 536
35 Thoothukkudi 1744
36 Tirunelveli 1076
37 Virudhunagar 1703
Total 54666
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