Decoding India’s Tech Stack: BharatNet — Revolutionizing Rural Connectivity
Explore the impact and potential of BharatNet, the National Optical Fibre Network initiative connecting all of India’s village councils to high-speed broadband internet.
Learn how it’s revolutionizing rural connectivity and enabling digital access to e-governance, e-commerce, e-education, and e-healthcare.
What is BharatNet Project?
The BharatNet project, also known as the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), is a government initiative to connect all of India’s gram panchayats (village councils) with high-speed broadband internet.
The project is a key component of the Indian government’s efforts to bridge the digital divide and provide access to digital services to citizens in rural and remote areas.
Phases of this project
The project was first launched in 2011 and initially aimed to connect 100,000 gram panchayats by 2013.
However, the project has faced significant delays and obstacles, and as of 2021, only about 150,000 out of 250,000 gram panchayats were connected. In 2017, the government relaunched the project with a revised target of connecting all gram panchayats by December 2018 with an estimated cost of Rs. 42,068 crore.
BharatNet is being implemented in three phases.
The first phase, which was completed in December 2017, focused on connecting around 100,000 gram panchayats through a combination of underground optical fiber cable and wireless technologies.
The second phase, which was completed in December 2019, aimed to connect an additional 1,00,000 village Panchayats.
The third and final phase, which is currently underway, focuses on providing last-mile connectivity to citizens and households in these gram panchayats.
Stakeholders in the BharatNet Project
The BharatNet project is being implemented by the Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
The project is also being executed by the state-owned telecom companies such as BSNL, RailTel, and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) as well as private players such as Reliance Jio.
Utility and Impact of the BharatNet Project
The BharatNet project is expected to bring significant benefits to citizens and businesses in rural and remote areas.
High-speed internet connectivity will enable citizens to access digital services such as e-governance, e-commerce, e-education, and e-healthcare.
It will also provide opportunities for small and medium enterprises, farmers and entrepreneurs to enhance their livelihoods and improve their access to markets and services.
Additionally, the BharatNet project is expected to have a positive impact on the economy as a whole. High-speed internet connectivity can help to promote the growth of new industries and businesses in rural areas, as well as to increase the productivity and competitiveness of existing industries. Additionally, it can also provide opportunities for increased investment and job creation in rural areas.
Challenges
However, the project has faced a number of challenges and obstacles along the way, including delays in acquiring right-of-way for laying optical fiber cables, lack of power supply in remote areas, inadequate staff and resources, and lack of awareness about the benefits of the project among citizens and government officials.
The government has been working to address these challenges, for example, by providing subsidies for the installation of solar-powered telecom towers in remote areas, and by launching awareness campaigns to educate citizens and officials about the benefits of the project.
In conclusion, BharatNet, the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) project, is a major initiative by the Indian Government aimed to connect all of India’s gram panchayats with high-speed broadband internet.
The project was launched in 2011 with the target to connect 100,000 gram panchayats by 2013, but faced delay and obstacles and as of 2021 only about 150,000 out of 250,000 gram panchayats were connected.
The government relaunched the project in 2017 with a target to connect all the gram panchayats by December 2018. BharatNet project is expected to bring significant benefits to citizens, businesses and the economy.
