Executive Summary:
This document is the answer to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4506 regarding the quality and speed of fiber optic internet services, answered on August 20, 2025. It details the expansion of optical fiber networks in India over the last five years, driven by initiatives like Digital India and the National Broadband Mission. The document also outlines measures to improve service quality, reduce import dependence, leverage OFC in disaster management, and upgrade public WiFi infrastructure.
Key Points / Main Content:
Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) Deployment:
* 19,53,264 route KM of OFC laid across the country in the last five years (as of March 31, 2025).
* State-wise details of OFC laid are provided in Annexure-I.
Digital India Initiative & Connectivity Improvement:
* National Broadband Mission (NBM) implementation is improving telecom connectivity.
* Centralized Right of Way (RoW) Portal launched on May 14, 2022, streamlining permissions for OFC laying and telecom tower installation.
* Telecommunications Right of Way Rules 2024, effective from January 1, 2025, standardize RoW permissions and charges.
* Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) supports stable broadband connectivity and bridging the digital divide.
* BharatNet project provides broadband to Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages on demand.
* Submarine optical fiber cables laid between Chennai-Andaman & Nicobar (2312 km) and Kochi-Lakshadweep (1869 km).
* Schemes for high-speed internet and 4G mobile services in remote areas (North-East, Islands, LWE-affected regions, Aspirational Districts, and border villages).
Fiber Optic Internet Service Quality and Capacity:
* 2,09,291 Gram Panchayats (GPs) on OFC are Service Ready as of June 30, 2025.
* 13,01,193 FTTH connections provided in rural areas under the BharatNet project.
* Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) approved on August 4, 2023, for upgrading existing BharatNet networks, creating networks in balance GPs, and operation/maintenance for 10 years.
OFC Manufacturing and Exports:
* India has sufficient optical fiber manufacturing capacity.
* Optical fiber exports from India were ₹3,398 crore in FY 2023-24 and ₹3,009 crore in FY 2024-25.
OFC Network in Disaster Management:
* OFC network enables reliable communication for early warnings and large-scale data sharing during emergencies.
* It supports coordination, community alerts, and rescue operations, reducing loss of life and property.
* Network is mostly unaffected during disasters, except landslides, earthquakes, or severe floods.
Impact Analysis:
Government of India (Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications):
* Impact: Responsible for the successful implementation and monitoring of the National Broadband Mission, Digital Bharat Nidhi, and BharatNet projects. Accountable for achieving the goals of expanded fibre coverage and affordable broadband access for all.
* Action Required: Continue to streamline RoW permissions, ensure stable broadband connectivity through DBN initiatives, upgrade existing BharatNet infrastructure, and promote domestic manufacturing of optical fibre.
Telecom Operators/Service Providers:
* Impact: Benefit from streamlined RoW processes and increased investment in fiber optic infrastructure, enabling them to expand their services and improve the quality of internet access.
* Action Required: Leverage the Centralized RoW Portal, participate in BharatNet projects, and invest in upgrading their networks to provide high-speed internet services in both urban and rural areas.
Citizens (Especially in Rural and Remote Areas):
* Impact: Improved access to high-speed internet services, leading to better education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Enhanced communication and early warning systems in disaster-prone areas.
* Action Required: Utilize the improved internet connectivity for education, healthcare, and economic activities. Engage with local authorities and service providers to ensure the availability and quality of broadband services.
Optical Fiber Manufacturers:
* Impact: Benefit from increased demand for optical fiber cables due to expanded network deployment, with opportunities for exports.
* Action Required: Maintain and expand manufacturing capacity to meet the growing demand for optical fiber cables.
Gram Panchayats (GPs):
* Impact: Enhanced connectivity through the BharatNet project.
* Action Required: Support the rollout of BharatNet and ensure the effective use of broadband services for local development.
Key Entities Referenced
Optical Fibre Cable OFC: A cable containing one or more optical fibers that are used to transmit data in the form of light signals over long distances, with high bandwidth and low signal loss, used for internet and communication services.
Digital India: A Government of India initiative to ensure that Government services are made available to citizens electronically by improved online infrastructure and by increasing Internet connectivity.
National Broadband Mission NBM: An initiative by the Government to improve telecom connectivity, including fibre-optic internet services across the country.
Telecommunications Right of Way Rules 2024: Rules established under The Telecommunications Act, 2023 to standardize the processes for obtaining Right of Way permissions for telecom infrastructure deployment.
Digital Bharat Nidhi DBN: A fund used by the Department of Telecommunications to ensure stable broadband connectivity and bridge the digital divide.
BharatNet: A project providing broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages across India.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands UT: A union territory of India where submarine optical fiber cables were laid to improve internet connectivity.
Lakshadweep UT: A union territory of India where submarine optical fiber cables were laid to improve internet connectivity.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4506
ANSWERED ON 20TH AUGUST, 2025
QUALITY AND SPEED OF FIBRE-OPTIC INTERNET SERVICES
4506. SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL:
DR. RAJEEV BHARADWAJ:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) the details (in kilometres) of the Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) laid across the country during
the last five years, State, district and year-wise including of Kangra and Chamba districts of
Himachal Pradesh;
(b) the contribution of the Digital India initiative in the growth of optical fibre networks in the
country;
(c) the details of the measures taken/being taken to improve the quality and speed of fibre optic
internet services in urban and rural areas and reduce dependence on foreign optical fibre imports;
(d) the manner in which OFC network has helped in disaster-prone areas by improving early
warning and communication systems;
(e) whether the Government proposes to upgrade public Wi-Fi infrastructure through fibre optic
connectivity and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the details of upcoming schemes or initiatives to make broadband internet affordable for all
through expanded fibre coverage?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a), (b), (e) & (f) As of March 31, 2025, a total of 19,53,264 route KM of Optical Fibre Cable
(OFC) has been laid across the country during the last five years. The State-wise details are attached
as Annexure-I.
The Government has taken the following key actions to improve the telecom connectivity
including fibre-optic internet services by implementing the National Broadband Mission (NBM) in
the country.
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.
1ii. 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.
Further, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is ensuring stable broadband
connectivity 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. Submarine optical fiber cables were laid between Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar
(2312 km) and Kochi and Lakshadweep (1869 km), enabling faster internet connectivity.
iii. Various schemes for high-speed internet 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.
(c) As on 30th June 2025, 2,09,291 Gram Panchayats (GPs) on OFC have been made Service
Ready for providing high speed internet services and total 13,01,193 no. of FTTH connections have
been provided in rural areas under the BharatNet project. The Wi-Fi technology enabled FTTH
connections are being provided through BharatNet network.
On 04.08.2023, the Union Cabinet has approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP)
under Design, Built, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) model, for up-gradation of existing network of
BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II, creation of network in balance GPs, Operation and Maintenance for
10 years and utilization.
India has sufficient manufacturing capacity of optical fibre. Exports of optical fibre from
India in FY 2023–24 and FY 2024–25 were ₹3,398 crore and ₹3,009 crore respectively.
(d) The OFC network enables high-speed, reliable communication for early warnings, supports
large-scale data sharing among emergency services, and remains mostly unaffected during disaster
situations except landslide, earthquake or severe floods. This helps in coordination, community
alerts, and rescue operations, reducing loss of life and property.
2Annexure-I
Annexure referred to in Part (a), (b), (e) & (f), of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4506
answered on 20.08.2025.
Total OFC Laid
S. No State/UT Name
(in route KM)
1 Andaman and Nicobar Islands (UT) 702
2 Andhra Pradesh 138225
3 Arunachal Pradesh 4180
4 Assam 49063
5 Bihar 37562
6 Chandigarh (UT) 14964
7 Chhattisgarh 54577
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman
8 & Diu (UT) 833
9 Delhi (UT) 33000
10 Goa 1475
11 Gujarat 136481
12 Haryana 23714
13 Himachal Pradesh 11256
14 Jammu and Kashmir (UT) 20441
15 Jharkhand 39142
16 Karnataka 84719
17 Kerala 191051
18 Ladakh (UT) 2219
19 Lakshadweep (UT) 24
20 Madhya Pradesh 78396
21 Maharashtra 169304
22 Manipur 3934
23 Meghalaya 5688
24 Mizoram 3667
25 Nagaland 3876
26 Odisha 65641
27 Puducherry (UT) 137
28 Punjab 114324
29 Rajasthan 83201
30 Sikkim 1301
31 Tamil Nadu 168071
32 Telangana 157672
33 Tripura 3656
34 Uttar Pradesh 149907
35 Uttarakhand 17746
36 West Bengal 83114
Grand Total 1953264
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