Digital Bharat Nidhi & AP Sign Pact for Amended BharatNet Rollout

A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was signed in Amaravati between the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Centre for implementation of the Amended BharatNet Project (ABP) in the State.

The agreement marks a major step towards strengthening rural digital connectivity by expanding high-speed broadband access across villages and ensuring seamless internet connectivity to rural households.

Key Highlights

• Target: Fibre connectivity to nearly 5 lakh rural households.
• Coverage: 13,426 Gram Panchayats across Andhra Pradesh.
• Central Assistance: ₹2,432 crore committed by the Centre.
• Implementation Agency: A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) named Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (APBIL) has been constituted by the State Government.
• Objective: Position Andhra Pradesh as a model for rural digital transformation.

The implementation will be carried out in coordination with Digital Bharat Nidhi.

Project Implementation Details

The rollout plan includes:

1. Upgradation of networks in 1,692 Phase I Gram Panchayats.
2. Completion of connectivity in 11,254 Phase II villages.
3. Extension of services to 480 newly formed Gram Panchayats.
4. Focused last-mile connectivity in 3,942 villages based on demand.

The State aims to restore and expand fibre connections within 18 months. Earlier, Andhra Pradesh had provided nearly 9.78 lakh fibre connections using electricity poles, though coverage later declined.

With renewed central support, the State intends to ensure reliable high-speed internet access to every rural household.

Development Objectives

Expanded broadband connectivity will strengthen:

• Digital governance
• Online education
• Telemedicine services
• Digital payments
• E-governance platforms
• AI-driven public service delivery

The initiative aligns with the broader national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

What is BharatNet?

BharatNet is one of the world’s largest rural telecom projects.

Background

• Originally launched in 2011 as the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN).
• Renamed BharatNet in 2015 under the Ministry of Communications.
• Designed to connect every Gram Panchayat (GP) in India with high-speed broadband.

Objective

• Provide affordable broadband access in rural India.
• Enable delivery of e-health, e-education, and e-governance services.
• Bridge the digital divide.

Initial target: Approximately 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats.

Phases of BharatNet

Phase I

• Connected 1 lakh Gram Panchayats.
• Completed in 2017.
• Used optical fibre and existing infrastructure.

Phase II (Ongoing)

• Expanding coverage to 1.5 lakh GPs.
• Uses optical fibre, radio, and satellite technologies.
• Involves state governments and private partners.

Phase III (Ongoing)

• Focuses on 5G integration.
• Bandwidth enhancement.
• Strengthened last-mile connectivity.
• Includes the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) approved in 2023.

Amended BharatNet Program (ABP)

The ABP aims to:

• Provide optical fibre connectivity to 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats in ring topology.
• Extend connectivity to non-GP villages on demand.
• Deploy IP-MPLS networks with routers at Block and GP levels.
• Install Remote Fibre Monitoring Systems.

Ring topology ensures network redundancy and reliability.

Funding and Execution Framework

• Funded through Digital Bharat Nidhi, which replaced the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
• Executed by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) under the Companies Act, 1956.
• Under ABP, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) serves as Project Management Agency for operation and maintenance.

Current National Status (as of 2025)

• Approximately 2.18 lakh Gram Panchayats made service-ready.
• Optical Fibre Cable length exceeds 42 lakh route kilometers.
• Over 12 lakh Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) connections commissioned.
• More than 1 lakh Wi-Fi hotspots installed.

India has also completed one of the world’s fastest 5G rollouts in 22 months, with 40 crore 5G users.

Complementary Digital Initiatives

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)

• Focus: Digital literacy in rural households.
• Trained over 6.39 crore individuals (as of March 2024).

National Broadband Mission (NBM)

• NBM 2.0 launched in January 2025.
• Includes Centralised Right of Way (RoW) Portal – GatiShakti Sanchar.

CSC e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC SPV)

• Set up under Ministry of Electronics & IT.
• Installed 1.04 lakh Wi-Fi access points.
• Enabled 11.42 lakh FTTH connections.
• Piloted overhead fibre deployment.

Mobile Connectivity

• 6.25 lakh villages mobile-connected (as of December 2024).
• 6.18 lakh villages with 4G coverage.
• Over 4 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations deployed across 779 districts.

Significance of Andhra Pradesh Pact

The MoC between Andhra Pradesh and Digital Bharat Nidhi represents:

• Strengthening Centre–State coordination.
• Acceleration of rural digital infrastructure.
• Boost to digital inclusion.
• Expansion of broadband access to underserved populations.
• Creation of a replicable model for other states.

By integrating fibre connectivity with digital governance and service delivery, the State aims to enhance rural transformation and reduce the digital divide.