The Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has increased the Budget of BharatNet project to ₹10,000 crore for 2017-18, up from ₹6,000 crore and said high-speed broadband connectivity on optical fibre will be available in more than 1.50 lakh gram panchayats by March 2018.
By the end of 2017-18, high speed broadband connectivity on optical fibre will be available in more than 1.50 lakh gram panchayats, with Wi-Fi hotspots and access to digital services at low tariffs.
The BharatNet project is being carried out by a special purpose vehicle (SPV) called Bharat Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL) set up by the government and three companies including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCI) and RailTel Corporation of India (RailTel) works as a team in this SPV.
BSNL is the one which is working on the forefront and laying down the cables at a faster rate and is also meeting the connecting target to make the country digitally strong.
BBNL was given mandate to connect one-lakh gram panchayats by March 2017.
The ₹6,000 crore had come from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) last year and the announced allotment amount is also likely to come from USO Fund only.
Under the ‘DigiGaon’project, 1.55 lakh km of optical fibre cable (OFC) have been laid and apart from providing digital connectivity, the project will also inculcate projects such as a ‘DigiGaon’ to provide tele-medicine, education and skills through digital technology.
