Government’s hard work paid off, this is how internet reached 2.14 lakh villages of the country
Rahul Tiwari December 22, 2024 01:21 PM

The Government of India said BharatNet, the world's largest rural broadband connectivity programme, has helped connect more than 2.14 lakh gram panchayats using optical fibre, radio and satellite technologies. Launched in October 2011, this project aims to provide affordable high-speed internet facility to every gram panchayat in the country. The Ministry of Communications said that the objective of this initiative is to strengthen rural India, promote inclusive growth and bridge the gap between urban and rural communities. BharatNet is not just an infrastructure project.

11,60,367 FTTH connections operational

According to the Central Ministry, 2,14,283 gram panchayats have been connected through the BharatNet project and 6,92,299 kilometers of optical fiber cable (OFC) has been laid. It also provides affordable internet in rural areas with broadband services starting at Rs 99 per month and the estimated monthly internet data usage is 1,37967 TB. Apart from this, till December 20, 11,60,367 fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections have been made operational and 1,04,574 Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed to provide last mile connectivity. BharatNet serves as the world's largest rural broadband connectivity program. The core of the network relies on optical fiber cables, satellite links for remote areas and wireless technologies for last mile connectivity.

Project implemented in three phases

The government implemented the project to provide internet in rural areas of the country in three phases. The ministry said that the first phase, which was completed in December 2017. It focused on laying optical fiber cable to connect 1 lakh gram panchayats. During the second phase, coverage was expanded to connect 1.5 lakh more gram panchayats using optical fiber, radio and satellite technologies. In this phase, work was done in collaboration with state governments and private organizations. The third phase aims to future-proof the network by integrating 5G technologies, increasing bandwidth capacity and ensuring strong last-mile connectivity. The ministry said that this phase is going on, the objective of which is to reach more people and provide them facilities. The ministry said BharatNet has had a transformative impact on rural India, and has contributed to socio-economic development in multiple ways such as digital inclusion, economic opportunities, education and healthcare, and strengthened local governance.

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