Lok Sabha Question No. 3551 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-22
Subject: Optical Fibre Network
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Arvind Kumar Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3551 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND  MARCH, 2023

## OPTICAL FIBRE NETWORK

## 3551.   DR. ARVIND KUMAR SHARMA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether capacity utilisation of large and high capacity optical fibre network created by Bharat broadband network is still not optimum;

- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government to address the same; and

(c) the  details  of  the  outcomes  achieved,  if  any,  out  of  such  efforts  to  increase  capacity utilization?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) BharatNet project  is  being  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  create  network  to connect all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) with broadband in the country. The scope of BharatNet has been recently  extended  upto  all  inhabited  villages  beyond  GPs.  The  infrastructure  created  under BharatNet is accessible on non-discriminatory basis to all Service Providers. These Service Providers may utilize the BharatNet network for provisioning of broadband/internet services through Wi-Fi Hotspots, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections, leased line, backhaul to mobile towers, etc.

Further, the following steps have been taken to increase the utilization of BharatNet network in Country:

- Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has been entrusted responsibility for utilization of BharatNet  with  effect  from  01.07.2022  by  provisioning  of  broadband/internet  services through Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections, leased lines, dark fibre, backhaul to mobile towers, etc . Under  State Led  Model  of BharatNet Phase-II, concerned State-led Implementing Agencies are responsible for utilization of BharatNet.
- BSNL has developed Franchisee Management System (FMS) for on boarding the franchisees and revenue share partners of BSNL and over 5000 franchisees have been made. A pilot scheme  has  been  approved  by  this  Ministry  for  providing  1  lakh  FTTH  connections  by BSNL/BBNL on revenue sharing basis though BharatNet Udyamis, in the rural areas.
- Including the pilot project, BSNL has provided, about 2.05 lakh FTTH connections utilizing BharatNet infrastructure in the rural areas so far.
- Interactions have been held by BSNL with the User Ministries/Departments interacted to seek the demand for high-speed data connections for the institutions running in rural areas.

- Under special assistance scheme of Ministry of Finance, about Rs. 2700 Cr. is being provided to  States/  UTs  for  providing  FTTH  connections  in  Government  Institutions,  Private Institutions and households. States/ Union Territories are signing the MoUs/ Agreements with BSNL/other  Internet  Service  Providers  for  providing  the  FTTH  connections  utilizing BharatNet infrastructure.
- Demand registration portal 'https://ruralfiber.bsnl.co.in' has been developed and shared with the Ministries/Departments.
- For the Phase-II of BharatNet, the respective Implementing Agencies are making separate efforts for the utilization of the network

(c) As on 06.03.2023, 1,89,402 GPs (1,84,699 on fibre and 4703 on Satellite) have been made service ready. 2,67,841 FTTH connection are installed by BSNL & others ISPs utilizing BharatNet infrastructure. Overall data usage on BharatNet per month has increased from about 4,121 Tera Bytes (TB) in month of March, 2022 to 25,803 TB per month in January, 2023. The leasing of dark fibre has increased from 38,448 Km to 61,488 Km during this period.

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