BharatNet Project
(a) whether the BharatNet Project has been launched to connect all Gram Panchayats to provide high speed internet services in the country and if so, the details including the salient features thereof;
(b) whether the Government has completed the phase-I of the said project and if so, the details thereof including the number of Gram Panchayats that have been connected through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) under the said phase during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
(c) the funds earmarked/allocated and spent by the Government under phase-I of the said project, State/UT-wise;
(d) whether the Government has launched the second phase of the BharatNet Project and if so, the details thereof including the number of Gram Panchayats that have been connected through OFC in this phase, State/UT-wise and the timeline fixed for the completion of the said phase along with the time by which all the Gram Panchayats are proposed to be provided with high speed internet services; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to provide digital board and internet connectivity in all schools through the aforementioned project and if so, the details thereof along with the internet penetration rate in the country?
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO: 73 ANSWERED ON: 07.02.2018
BharatNet Project
VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT
SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the BharatNet Project has been launched to connect all Gram Panchayats to provide high speed internet services in the country and if so, the details including the salient features thereof;
(b) whether the Government has completed the phase-I of the said project and if so, the details thereof including the number of Gram Panchayats that have been connected through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) under the said phase during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
(c) the funds earmarked/allocated and spent by the Government under phase-I of the said project, State/UT-wise;
(d) whether the Government has launched the second phase of the BharatNet Project and if so, the details thereof including the number of Gram Panchayats that have been connected through OFC in this phase, State/UT-wise and the timeline fixed for the completion of the said phase along with the time by which all the Gram Panchayats are proposed to be provided with high speed internet services; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to provide digital board and internet connectivity in all schools through the aforementioned project and if so, the details thereof along with the internet penetration rate in the country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS &
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.
STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *73 FOR 7TH FEBRUARY, 2018 ON “BHARATNET PROJECT”.
(a) Yes, Madam. BharatNet Project (initially National Optical Fibre Network) has been launched to connect all Gram Panchayats (approx. 2,50,000) by broadband in the country. The salient features of the project are as follows:
i. The infrastructure created by BharatNet is a national asset and non-discriminatory access to Service Providers is to be provided under the project.
ii. The project is being implemented in a phased manner. The implementation of Phase I to connect 1,00,000 Gram Panchayats (GPs) is through three Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) viz. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), RailTel and Powergrid. BharatNet Phase II approved by the Cabinet on July 19, 2017 to connect remaining (approx. 1,50,000) GPs is being implemented.
iii. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) viz. Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) was setup to establish, manage & operate the BharatNet infrastructure.
iv. The total cost of BharatNet to connect all GPs (approx. 2,50,000) approved by the Cabinet on July 19, 2017 is Rs 42,068 crore.
(b) Yes, Madam. BharatNet Phase I to connect 1,00,000 GPs has been completed. In Phase I, as on 28.01.2018 a total of 1,11,084 GPs have been connected by Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) and 1,02,326 GPs are Service Ready. The State/Union Territory (UT) -wise status of GPs connected through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) is given in Annexure-I.
(c) An amount of Rs 11,148 crore was approved for BharatNet Phase I, out of this Rs 10,286 crore has been allocated to BBNL. Implementation of Phase I is being done through three CPSUs, to whom the funds are provided in accordance with their spending; upto January, 2017, a sum of Rs 9,027 crore has been spent in the BharatNet Phase I. The State/ UT-wise funds spent is given in Annexure-II.
(d) Yes, Madam. The Government has launched the second phase of the BharatNet Project. On 19.07.2017, the Union Cabinet approved a modified strategy for implementing BharatNet under which, the remaining 1,50,000 (approx.) Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country are to be provided broadband connectivity in Phase-II of the project. Telecom Commission on 08.09.2017, 29.09.2017 and 21.12.2017 has approved the implementation plans for States. BharatNet Phase II, which includes providing broadband connectivity to all GPs is to be completed by March 2019. The salient features of the BharatNet Phase-II are as follows:
i. The implementation is to be done through State Model, Private Sector Model and CPSU Model.
ii. Optimal mix of media (OFC, Radio and satellite) to be used to connect GPs.
iii. Service delivery mechanism by providing last mile connectivity, through Wi-Fi or any other suitable broadband technology to all GPs has been made an integral part of the project.
(e) BharatNet is being implemented to provide broadband connectivity to the Gram Panchayats. Under the project model, the service delivery is proposed through Service Providers. The State Government and/or the Departments of Central Government are to provide connectivity to the Government institutions, including connectivity for digital board and internet connectivity at GP level. However, all necessary facilitation for such connectivity is to be made by BBNL/ USOF/ DOT.
The internet penetration in the country, as on 30th September, 2017, is 33.22 subscribers per 100 population.
Source: Loksabha
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