Lok Sabha Question No. 3718 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Infrastructure Improvement in BSNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Brijmohan Agrawal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3718 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT IN BSNL

## †3718. Shri Brijmohan Agrawal:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the infrastructure improvement works being carried out by the Government through State Telecommunication Network, BSNL and other public sector undertakings under Digital India initiative, State and district-wise;
- (b) whether the special efforts have been made in various States to increase internet coverage across the country, if so, the number of new internet and broadband networks installed State and district-wise ;
- (c) the plans and special initiatives being considered by the Government to expand internet and digital education in rural and tribal areas; and
- (d) the  major  contributions  given  by  the  State  Governments  in  the  National  Optical  Fibre  Network (NOFN) project along with the issues resolved through the said cooperation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) to (d) To improve the internet connectivity, Government is implementing various projects under Digital Bharat Nidhi ( erstwhile USOF ). Such projects awarded to BSNL include ( i ) 4G Saturation project to provide 4G mobile services in uncovered villages across the country, ( ii ) Border Out Posts ( BoP )/ Border Intelligence Posts ( BIP ) project for the provision of 4G based mobile services at BoP / BIP ' s . The details of the Projects are available at the website : www.usof . gov . in .

Further, BharatNet project (earlier known as National Optical Fiber Network) being funded by Digital Bharat Nidhi ( erstwhile USOF ) is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to  all  Gram  Panchayats  across  the  country . BharatNet  Phase -II  in  eight  States ( Chhattisgarh,  Gujarat, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Telangana ) is being implemented under State Led Model . DBN is funding for the linear architecture with GPON ( Gigabit Passive Optical Network ) technology,  however,  some  States ( Maharashtra,  Andhra  Pradesh,  Telangana  and  Chhattisgarh ) have implemented enhanced ring architecture with IP -MPLS ( Internet Protocol Multi -Protocol Label Switching ) technology with the contribution from State Government .

Further, Amended Bharatnet program has been approved by the Union Cabinet on 04.08.2023 with an outlay of Rs. 1.39 Lakh Crores to extend fiber to all Gram Panchayats and villages on demand basis, including provisions for 1.5 Crores high speed  FTTH broadband connections in rural areas. BSNL is the Project  Management  Agency  for  this  scheme.  As  on  04.11.2024,  total  11,74,536  broadband  FTTH connections have been provided on BharatNet network in rural areas.

The schemes/projects being implemented under Digital India initiatives to improve the digital literacy in rural and tribal areas includes Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA), National Knowledge Network (NKN) and BHASHINI etc.

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