Parliament Question: State-led Implementation Model

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4093 ANSWERED ON 12TH AUGUST, 2026 STATE-LED IMPLEMENTATION MODEL 4093. SHRI CHAMALA KIRAN KUMAR REDDY: SHRI EATALA RAJENDER: WILL the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Telangana has opted to follow ‘State-led Implementation Model’ for implementing BharatNet Phase-II Project and scope of T-Fiber project consists of connecting 10757 GPs and Mandals and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether architecture of T-Fiber project is unique and this project has been going on for implementation in GPs and Mandals and if so, the details thereof; (c) the details of handing over of National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) Phase-I executed by BBNL in the 9 districts (erstwhile Khammam, Nizamabad and Rangareddy) to have a unified and integrated network in the State; (d) approval of DPR submitted to undertake conversion of NOFN Phase-I network to BharatNet Phase-III architecture; (e) whether the extension of BharatNet Udyami Incentive Scheme to T-Fiber for enhancing the rural broadband proliferation and if so, the details thereof; and (f) whether the extending long-term interest free loan of Rs. 1779 crore to the Government of Telangana for T-Fibre to avoid financial burden through the loans already availed from Bank of Maharashtra @ 9.4% and if so, the details of action taken thereon? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR) (a) to (f) Yes, Telangana has opted to follow ‘State-Led Implementation Model’ for implementation of BharatNet phase-II project in the state of Telangana through T-Fiber with the scope of 10,787 Gram Panchayats (GPs), out of which 8,887 GPs had been connected in Telangana under BharatNet Phase-II project. Further, the Government of India has approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) for upgradation of the existing network created under Phase-I and Phase-II of BharatNet and to create incremental network for new GPs, and to connect the non-GP villages on demand basis, and operation & maintenance of GPs. The Government of India has accorded In- Principle approval to the proposal of Government of Telangana for implementation of Amended BharatNet Program in the State with provisioning of ₹3,189 crore to upgrade & connect 12,769 GPs in ABP and agreement for the same has already been shared with the Government of Telangana. Under the ABP, Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections are provisioned across all the States/Union Territories, including Telangana, through the BharatNet Udyami (BNU) model, with subsidy support from the Government of India. *****