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

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

BharatNet to connect 1.5 lakh gram panchayats to internet by March 2019
In a socially conservative nation where marriages are often arranged by relatives, mobile connectivity is enabling rural families to go online to find matches from a wider pool of suitors
Khalid Anzar New Delhi
Last Updated : Nov 13 2017 | 12:21 PM IST
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

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