Lok Sabha Question No. 258 (STARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: National Optical Fibre Network Project
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: M.K. Vishnu Prasad, Y. S. Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 258 FOR ANSWER ON 3 RD  AUGUST, 2022

## NATIONAL OPTICAL FIBRE NETWORK PROJECT

- *258.   DR. VISHNU PRASAD M.K.:

SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the optical fibre cables laid in Tamil Nadu so far under National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) project along with the total cost of project and the funds allocated;
- (b) the timeline fixed for achieving the remaining target;

(c) the  details  of  the  number  of  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  in  Tamil  Nadu  and  Andhra Pradesh that have been connected with broadband and Wi-Fi hotspots so far under the said project; and

(d) the  reasons  for  a  number  of  GPs  not  being  connected  to  the  said  services  in  Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh under the said project so far?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS & ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  258  FOR  3 RD AUGUST, 2022 REGARDING 'NATIONAL OPTICAL FIBRE NETWORK PROJECT'

(a) & (b) BharatNet  project  (earlier  known  as  National  Optical  Fiber  Network)  is implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) of the country, including Tamil Nadu. In Tamil Nadu, around 428 km of OFC has been laid  under  BharatNet  project,  as  on  25.07.2022.  The  approved  cost  of  the  project  is  Rs. 1815.31 crore,  and  about  Rs.  235.11  crore  has  been  released.  The  scope  of  BharatNet  has been extended up to all  inhabited villages beyond GPs in the country  with the timeline as 2025.

(c) & (d) As on 25.07.2022, under BharatNet project, no GP in Tamil Nadu has been made Service Ready, whereas, in Andhra Pradesh, 2840 GPs have been made Service Ready.

Phase-I of BharatNet was not taken up in Tamil Nadu as the State Government signed the  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  only  on  31.03.2017  for  implementation  of BharatNet  project  with  Universal  Service  Obligation  Fund  (USOF)  and  Bharat  Broadband Network Limited (BBNL). BharatNet Phase-II in Tamil Nadu is being implemented by the State Government under State-led model covering all GPs of the State. The Phase-II project also  got  delayed,  as  the  first  tender  floated  in  December  2019  was  cancelled.  The  second tender was floated in October, 2020 under four packages. But Work order could be awarded for  only  two  packages  till  October  2021  as  the  other  two  packages  went  under  litigation. Subsequently, after disposal of pending litigation, the work of remaining two packages has also been awarded on 30.03.2022 and 27.05.2022.

Phase-II of BharatNet in Andhra Pradesh is implemented under State-led model and, 1151 GPs have been made Service Ready, out of 11,254 planned GPs. The Phase-II project work was stalled since March 2020 due to State's request for changing the implementation strategy from aerial to underground for the remaining work. In November, 2021; the State Government agreed to continue the project as per the original Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), i.e. laying OFC in aerial mode, and the same has been started.

Under Bharatnet Phase-I in Andhra Pradesh, a total number of 1681 GPs were taken up for implementation (through Power Grid Corporation of India Limited), out of which 1680 GPs  have  been  made  Service  Ready.  Further,  9  GPs  have  been  made  Service  Ready  on Satellite media out of 20 planned GPs.

The infrastructure created under BharatNet project is a national asset, accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to the Service Providers, and the same can be  utilized to provide broadband services, such as Wi-Fi Hotspots, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections, leased lines, dark fibre, backhaul to mobile towers, etc. So far, 4530 FTTH connections and 1570 Wi-Fi hotspots have been provided in Phase-I GPs in Andhra Pradesh.

As  the  BharatNet  Phase-II  project  is  being  implemented  under  State-led  model  in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, the respective State Governments are  responsible for its utilization also.

*****