Lok Sabha Question No. 1166 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Phase I and II of BharatNet
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Pritam Gopinath Munde, Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Girish Bhalchandra Bapat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1166 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH FEBRUARY, 2022

## PHASE I & II OF BHARATNET

1166.   DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE: SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU: SHRI GIRISH BHALCHANDRA BAPAT:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of Gram Panchayats (GP) and Blocks the Union Government has proposed to cover under Phase I and Phase II of BharatNet project in Maharashtra and Odisha;
- (b) the details of GP and Blocks so far covered under the said programme;
- (c) the  details  of  broadband  connections  working  and  provided  with  infrastructures  to provide high speed broadband connectivity in Maharashtra and Odisha as on date and the action taken/being taken for providing Broadband facility to all GPs under the said programme;
- (d) the details of percentage of utilisation of Phase I of the BharatNet project in the country particularly in Maharashtra and Odisha;
- (e) whether  the  Union  Government  proposes  to  provide  Wi-Fi  technology  under  the BharatNet project so the internet facilities is provided in rural areas in the country particularly in Maharashtra and Odisha; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) & (b) BharatNet  project  is  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  provide  broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. In the States of Maharashtra and Odisha, Phase-II of the Project is being implemented by the State Government.

In  Maharashtra, the  Phase-I  was  implemented  through  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited (BSNL) and in Odisha, the Phase-I was  implemented through Powergrid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL).

The details of Gram Panchayats (GP) and Blocks proposed and covered under Phase-I and Phase-II of BharatNet Project in Maharashtra and Odisha are Annexed.

(c) to (f) 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  for provisioning of broadband/internet services through Wi-Fi Hotspots, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections,  leased  lines,  dark  fibre,  backhaul  to  mobile  towers,  etc.    The  steps  taken  for providing broadband facility are given below:

- (i) Under BharatNet Phase-I, work has been awarded for providing Wi-Fi Services in about 1.20 lakh GPs (including that of Maharashtra and Odisha) with funding from  Universal  Service  Obligation  Fund  (USOF).  Out  of  the  aforesaid  GPs, provisioning of FTTH connections to 5 Government Institutions per GP is also included  in  77,000  (approx.)  GPs.  The  percentage  of  utilization  of  Phase-I  in Maharashtra and Odisha is 87% and 72% respectively.
- (ii) BharatNet Phase-II in Maharashtra and Odisha is being implemented by the State Governments, which are also responsible  for  its utilization.  However, no Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed under Phase-II so far.
- (iii) In  Maharashtra,  19,262  FTTH  connections  have  been  provided  and  Wi-Fi hotspots are installed  in  11,014  GPs.  In  Odisha,  8,611  FTTH  connections  have been provided and Wi-Fi hotspots are installed in 2,511 GPs.
- (iv) Bharat  Broadband  Network  Limited  (BBNL)  has  signed  50  Agreements  with Service Providers for providing broadband services across various States (including  10  Agreements  for  Maharashtra  and  1  Agreement  for  Odisha)  by utilizing  BharatNet  Phase-I  network.  Further,  2  Agreements  have  been  signed with  Service  Providers  for  providing  services  on  an  All  India  basis  (including Maharashtra and Odisha).

## Annexure

Unstarred Question No.1166 for 09th February 2022)

## Details of Gram Panchayats (GP) and Blocks proposed and covered under Phase-I and Phase-II of BharatNet Project in Maharashtra and Odisha

| State       | Phase     | Proposed Blocks/GPs (for which work assigned)   | Proposed Blocks/GPs (for which work assigned)   | Status of Covered/ Service Ready Blocks/ GPs   | Status of Covered/ Service Ready Blocks/ GPs   |
|-------------|-----------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
|             |           | Blocks                                          | GPs                                             | Blocks                                         | GPs                                            |
| Maharashtra | Phase-I   | 203                                             | 15171                                           | 203                                            | 15159                                          |
|             | Phase-II* | 148                                             | 12745                                           | 131                                            | 6626                                           |
| Odisha      | Phase-I   | 181                                             | 3810                                            | 181                                            | 3809                                           |
|             | Phase-II* | 133                                             | 2989                                            | 132                                            | 2715                                           |

(* including GPs on satellite media by BBNL/BSNL)

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