As of January 19, 2026, 2,14,905 out of 2,22,341 Gram Panchayats have been made service-ready under BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II, providing high-speed broadband internet up to 1 Gbps. The Amended BharatNet Program (ABP), approved on August 4, 2023, aims to connect all GPs through ring architecture and provide high-speed broadband connectivity to approximately 3.8 Lakhs non-GP Villages on-demand. As of December 2025, in Gorakhpur District, 1305 out of 1355 planned GPs (1301 on OFC and 4 on Satellite) have been made service-ready. The Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) has been approved under the Design, Built, Operate & Maintain (DBOM) model for up-gradation of existing network of BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II. It includes network creation in the remaining GPs, with Operation & Maintenance for 10 years and utilization.
Key Entities Referenced
BharatNet: A program for connecting Gram Panchayats with broadband.
Amended BharatNet Program (ABP): An updated program designed to upgrade the existing BharatNet network and connect additional villages.
Ministry of Communications: The government ministry responsible for answering questions about broadband coverage.
Gorakhpur District: Specific location cited as context for BharatNet implementation
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 760
TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH FEBRUARY, 2026
UNIVERSAL BROADBAND COVERAGE
760. DR. KAKOLI GHOSH DASTIDAR:
SHRI RAVINDRA SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the percentage of Gram Panchayats connected under BharatNet as of January
2026, and the average bandwidth available per village;
(b) the details of the actions taken/being taken by the Government to achieve universal broadband
coverage along with expected timeline thereof;
(c) the number of Gram Panchayats connected to the optical fiber network under the BharatNet
project in Gorakhpur district so far;
(d) the number of Gram Panchayats in which broadband services are fully functional; and
(e) the time limit set for providing connectivity in the remaining Gram Panchayats in the said
district?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) & (b) As on 19.01.2026, 2,14,905 out of 2,22,341 Gram Panchayats have been made
service-ready under BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II for providing high-speed broadband internet up
to 1 Gbps. Further, the Cabinet approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) on 04.08.2023,
which envisage to connect all GPs through ring architecture and providing high speed broadband
connectivity to ~3.8 Lakhs non-GP Villages on-demand basis.
(c) & (d) As of December 2025, out of 1355 GPs planned in Gorakhpur District, 1305 GPs
(1301 GPs on OFC and 4 GPs on Satellite) have been made service ready.
(e) Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) has been approved under Design, Built, Operate &
Maintain (DBOM) model for up-gradation of existing network of BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II,
creation of network in balance GPs, Operation & Maintenance for 10 years and utilization.
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