A significant milestone under the BharatNet has been achieved by completing Phase-1 of the project by connecting over one lakh Gram Panchayats (GP) across the country with high speed optical fibre network. It may be noted that the declared deadline of 31 Dec 2017. BharatNet network envisages delivery of high-speed broadband services in over 2.5 lakh villages benefitting more than 200 million rural Indians.
Union Minister for Communications Shri Manoj Sinha has said that BharatNet is the world’s largest rural broadband project created on the mantra of ‘Create, Collaborate and Conquer’ and will generate massive employment opportunities, both direct and indirect.
The project aims to provide affordable broadband services to citizens and institutions in rural and remote areas, in partnership with States and the private sector.
Secretary, Department of Telecom Ms Aruna Sundararajan has informed that BharatNet has given boost to Make-in-India as the key highlight of the project is that the telecom equipment deployed in it has been fully designed, developed and manufactured in India. She said that the project also achieved a global record of laying of 800 kilometres of optical fibre per day. She said that the BharatNet infrastructure is expected to catalyse digital delivery of services for the rural poor – viz. health, education, livelihood, skills, e-agriculture and e-commerce.
