Lok Sabha Question No. 1096 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-08
Subject: Optical Fibre Network
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: M. UDHAYAKUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1096 TO BE ANSWERED ON 8 TH  FEBRUARY, 2017

## OPTICAL FIBRE NETWORK

1096. ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to strengthen 2.5 lakh village panchayats through optical fibre network which was started in 2011;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the optical fibre network is moving at snail's speed at many places; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government for completion of the same in a time bound basis?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) & (b) Government had approved National Optical Fibre Network Project (NOFN) on 25.10.2011 to extend optical fibre connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country for providing Broadband connectivity.  The project was renamed as BharatNet in 2016 and a modified strategy has been approved by the Telecom Commission on 14.12.2016 to implement it in three phases:-
- Phase-I -1,00,000  GPs  under  implementation,  being  executed  by  3  Central  Public Sector  Enterprises  (CPSEs)  viz.  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited  (BSNL), RailTel and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), targeted to be completed by March, 2017.
- Phase-II -Balance  1,50,000  GPs  using  an  optimal  mix  of  underground/aerial  optical fibre  cable,  radio  and  satellite,  to  be  executed  by  3  CPSEs  and  State Governments  through  their  Discoms  or  any  other  agency,  targeted  to  be completed by December, 2018.
- Phase-III -Futuristic  network  with  ring  topology  between  Districts  and  Blocks  and Blocks and GPs is targeted to be completed by 2023.

Status  Progress of BharatNet  phase-1 as on 29.01.2017 is as under:-

Contd……..2/-

| Items                           | Achievement   |
|---------------------------------|---------------|
| Pipe Laid(Kms)                  | 1,98,064      |
| Pipe Laid (GPs)                 | 84,575        |
| Optical Fibre Cable pulled(Kms) | 1,72,257      |
| Optical Fibre Cable pulled(GPs) | 76,089        |
| GPs provided with connectivity  | 16,305        |

(c) & (d):  Several measures have been taken for speedy implementation of the project. As a result, the progress of the implementation has increased and the long pending issues have been resolved. Details are as under:-

- (i) Work  front  for  Phase-I  has  been  increased  by  25,859  GPs.  CPSEs  have  invited tenders for this additional work front.
- (ii) Procurement related initiatives :
1. In  line  with  the  current  strategy  of  decentralized  procurement  and  to  have multiple sources of supplies, tender for procurement of 40,000 km of OFC has been finalized  by  BSNL.  Procurement  of  10,000  Km  of  OFC  is  being  done  by RailTel and around 6,000 Km of OFC by PGCIL. Further, OFC procurement has been done in OFC deficit States from existing supplier of BBNL.
2. BBNL  Tender  for  procurement  of  GPON  equipment  has  been  finalized  and purchase orders have been issued to 3 bidders.
3. Accessories have been ordered from BSNL Telecom Factory.
4. Authorization  for  procurement  for  Fibre  Termination  Boxes,  Splitters  has  been made to the concerned CPSE (BSNL, RailTel and PGCIL).
- (iii) Three implementing CPSEs have been asked to increase implementation teams in the field.
- (iv) The  proposal  for  Operation  &  Maintenance  arrangement  finalized  between  BBNL  & BSNL has been approved by DoT.
- (v) Committees  have  been  set  up  at  various  levels  for  Monitoring  the  progress  and resolution of issues as detailed below :
1.  Empowered Committee under Chairmanship of Secretary, DOT
2.  Steering  Committee  under  Administrator,  USOF  for  resolution  of  inter  agency implementation matters.
3.  Technical  Standing  Committee  under  Member  (T)  for  deciding  the  technology related issues.

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