According to a report by Prasar Bharati, the government has set aside Rs 1,39,579 crore for the next stage of Bharat Net, which will increase connectivity in the nation’s rural areas. This would increase the number of connected villages from the present 1.94 lakh to 6.40 lakh, bringing Bharat Net to all of the nation’s villages within the next two years.
The Communication Ministry reportedly claimed that the extension project was chosen following the success of a pilot operation in four regions. Within eight months, the programme was expanded to 60,000 communities spread over the majority of the states in the nation. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed by the merging of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) is responsible for carrying out the Bharat Net project.
During the trial project, almost 1,700 towers were fiberized, and online training is offered for installing and maintaining fibre. The capital cost of the project is covered by the government, and any damage to the optical fibre sends a robotic message to the network operation centre. A projected 2.50 lakh employment would be created by the project.
Bharat Net Fibre completed 3.51 lakh fibre internet connections during the pilot project, and BSNL is currently offering 1.3 lakh connections each month. The administration is certain that a solid precedent has been established, and Bharat Net Fibre will shortly be formally launched. The average household in a rural location uses 175 GB of data per month compared to 230 GB in urban areas, according to reports.
Bharat Net, one of the largest rural broadband connectivity programmes in the world, is being implemented by Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, as part of the Make in India initiative.
