Lok Sabha Question No. 1392 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Broadband Connectivity in Gram Panchayats
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER, SHARAD TRIPATHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1392 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th   DECEMBER, 2018

## BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY IN GRAM PANCHAYATS

1392.  SHRI V. ELUMALAI: SHRI SHARAD TRIPATHI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  true  that  Bharat  Net  Project  to  extend  High  Speed  Broadband connectivity infrastructure to remaining 1.25 lakh panchayats out of total 2.5 lakh gram panchayats would be completed on time and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the action taken by the Government in this regard along with the villages where broadband facilities are likely to be provided in the year 2017-18;
- (c)  whether it  is  also  true  that  the  broadband  connectivity  would  offer e-health and egovernance services to the rural people;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government is working on the scheme called Wireless Broadband connectivity in rural and remote areas in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the number of villages included under the scheme along with the time by which remaining villages are likely to be included, State-wise including Uttar Pradesh ?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) BharatNet  is  being  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  provide  high speed  broadband  connectivity  to  all  the  Gram  Panchayats  (approx.  2.5  lakh)  in  the country.  BharatNet  Phase  I  to  connect  1,00,000  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  has  been completed in December 2017.

For  expediting  the  implementation  of  BharatNet  project,  on  19.07.2017,  the Union Cabinet approved a modified strategy for implementing BharatNet under which, connectivity to the remaining 1,50,000 (approx.) Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country is to be provided through an optimal mix of media (i.e. OFC, radio and satellite), by the three models of implementation; i.e. State-led model, Private Sector, CPSU model.

As on 09.12.2018, OFC laying & equipment installation has been completed at 1,16,492 GPs, which are Service Ready, and the remaining GPs  are under implementation. As per the above Cabinet approval, BharatNet project is targeted to be completed by March 2019.

Under  the  project  model,  the  service  delivery  is  proposed  through  Service Providers. The broadband connectivity can be used to offer e-services such as e-health, e-governance services.

(e) & (f) As part of the BharatNet project, the Last mile connectivity through Wi-Fi or any other suitable broadband technology, is being provided at all the GPs (approx. 2.5 lakh) in the country, including Uttar Pradesh. Every GP is to be provided with, on an average, 5 Access Points (APs), i.e. 3 APs in Government Institutions, such as schools, police  stations,  health  institutions,  etc.  and  2  APs  at  public  places.  The  project  is targeted to be completed by March 2019.

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