Lok Sabha Question No. 2931 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-11
Subject: National Broadband Mission
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Dinesh Chandra Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2931 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  MARCH, 2020

## NATIONAL BROADBAND MISSION

## †2931. SHRI DINESH CHANDRA YADAV:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  launched  National  Broadband  Mission  Scheme  in  the country;
- (b) if so, the details and the main characteristics thereof;
- (c) the  reasons  for  not  connecting  many  parts  and  villages  of  the  country  with  the communication facility despite the availability of satellite media;
- (d) whether  this  scheme  will  enable  the  availability  of  quality  and  concessional  digital communication services in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the reasons for not achieving the objective of Bharat Net project in the time line fixed by the Government?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) & (b) National Broadband Mission (NBM) was launched on 17th December 2019 with a vision to enable fast track growth of digital communications infrastructure, bridge the digital divide for  digital  empowerment  and inclusion,  and provide  affordable and universal  access  of broadband for all. Following are the main objectives of the National Broadband Mission:

- i. To  facilitate  universal  and  equitable  access  to  broadband  services  for  growth  and development throughout the country and especially in rural and remote areas
- ii. To  address  policy  and  regulatory  changes  required  to  accelerate  the  expansion  and creation of digital infrastructure and services
- iii. Creation of a digital fiber map of the digital communications network and infrastructure, including Optical Fiber Cables (OFC) and towers, across the country
- iv. Work  with  all  stakeholders  including  the  concerned  Ministries/  Departments/agencies and Ministry of Finance, for enabling investment for the Mission
- v. Work with the Department of Space, to make available adequate resources required for extending connectivity to far flung areas of country through satellite media

- vi. To  encourage  and  promote  adoption  of  innovative  technologies  for  proliferation  of broadband especially by the domestic industry
- vii. Seek cooperation from concerned stakeholders by developing innovative implementation models for Right of Way(RoW)
- viii. To work with States/Union Territories (UTs) for having consistent policies pertaining to expansion  of  digital  infrastructure  including  for  RoW  approvals  required  for  laying  of OFC
- ix. To  develop  a  Broadband  Readiness  Index(BRI)  to  measure  the  availability  of  digital communications infrastructure and conducive policy ecosystem within a State/UT
- x. Promote direct and indirect  employment as a result of development of digital communications infrastructure across the country and through the digital economy.

(c) The connectivity to the  uncovered areas is being provided through various schemes of Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) and by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)as part of  the  expansion  of  their  own  network  in  a  phased  manner,  using  various  types  of  media depending upon techno-commercial feasibility.

Under BharatNet project, about 6407 Gram Panchayats (GPs) located in difficult, hilly and  far flung areas have  been  planned  on  Satellite  media  for  provision  of  broadband connectivity.

- (d) Point covered in reply to para (a) and (b) above.

(e) BharatNet  is  a  project  of  mega  nature  and  the  GPs  are  widely  dispersed  across  the country in rural and remote areas. The delay in the implementation of the project is mainly on account of:

(i)  There  was  an  initial  delay  in  the  commencement  of  the  project  as  the  work  on  the project began in the second half of 2014due to field survey of GPs and pilot testing of the technology model.

(ii) In Phase-I, only one media, that is, underground OFC was used to connect GPs, and there were several Right of Way (RoW) issues.

(iii) Under Phase-II, about 65,000 GPs in 8 States are being implemented under State-led model. The delay in their implementation is also adversely affecting the completion of the Project.

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