BharatNet to connect 150,000 villages with internet by 2019: Things to know

BharatNet, an initiative of the central government to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to all gram panchayats by March 2019, would enter its final phase on November 13. 

With an outlay of around Rs 34,000 crore, the government aims to connect 150,000 panchayats through 1 million km of additional optical fibre and give bandwidth to telecom players at nearly 75 per cent cheaper rates for broadband and Wi-Fi services in rural areas.

Here is everything you need to know about BharatNet:

Inception

Launched in October 2011 as 'National Optical Fibre Network', the government of India initiative aimed at providing high-speed broadband services in over 200,000 gram panchayats of India. 

Objective

The initiative is aimed at reviving the existing optical fibre network of government-owned corporations -- BSNL, RailTel and Power Grid -- to provide internet connectivity to gram panchayats of India. The project intends to enable the Government of India to provide e-services and e-applications nationally with the help of Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Cable TV operators, etc. 

Technology

BharatNet uses Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) products supplied by United Telecoms Limited (UTL). These are manufactured in India and the technology is indigenously developed by Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).

Cost Involved

The total project cost of BharatNet is around Rs 45,000 crore, of which Rs 11,200 crore has been used in the first phase. The second phase, with an outlay of around Rs 34,000 crore, would start from today i.e. November 13.

Status of BharatNet Phase-1

S.no	Description of Work	Status
1	OFC Pipe laid	250,196 Kms (110,368 GPs)
2	Optical Fibre laid	238,677 Kms (103,275 GPs)
3	Tenders Finalized	3,332 Blocks / 124,669 GPs
4	Work Started*	3257 Blocks / 121,562 GPs
5	Current Weekly performance of Optical Fibre laying	1,541Kms
6	Current Weekly performance of OFC Pipe laying	786 Kms
7	Optical Fibre Cable Delivered on site	308,025 Kms
8	Service Ready GPs	75,082 GPs

State-wise count of service ready Gram Panchayats in BharatNet Phase-1

S.no	State	Count
1	ANDHRA PRADESH	15
2	ASSAM	563
3	BIHAR	3,352
4	CHANDIGARH	12
5	CHHATTISGARH	2,288
6	GUJARAT	2,869
7	HARYANA	4,643
8	HIMACHAL PRADESH	123
9	JAMMU & KASHMIR	140
10	JHARKHAND	1,219
11	KARNATAKA	6,053
12	KERALA	1,129
13	MADHYA PRADESH	6,355
14	MAHARASHTRA	10,478
15	MANIPUR	24
16	MEGHALAYA	14
17	ODISHA	1,335
18	PUDUCHERRY	100
19	PUNJAB	3,147
20	RAJASTHAN	6,885
21	TELANGANA	1,504
22	TRIPURA	245
23	UTTAR PRADESH	19,718
24	UTTRAKHAND	1,120
25	WEST BENGAL	1,122

Plan for BharatNet Phase-2