BharatNet
About
- BharatNet is an ambitious project of the Government of India aimed at providing affordable high-speed internet access to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country.
- The initiative, launched in 2011, aims to empower rural India, foster inclusive growth, and bridge the gap between urban and rural communities.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Communications.
Amended BharatNet Program
- The project initially aimed to connect all GPs across the country.
- In 2023, the government approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) to provide optical fiber connectivity to ~2.64 lakh GPs and ~3.8 lakh non-GP villages on demand basis across the country.
Optical Fiber Connectivity:
- Optical fiber connectivity uses thin strands of glass or plastic to transmit data as pulses of light, enabling ultra-fast, high-bandwidth communication over long distances with minimal signal loss, making it superior to copper cables for internet, telecom, and data centers.
- This technology works by sending digital information as light signals, which reflect internally (total internal reflection) down the fiber core, allowing for massive data transfer for applications like high-speed internet, video.
Funding
- BharatNet is primarily funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN).
Digital Bharat Nidhi:
- Digital Bharat Nidhi (erstwhile Universal Service Obligation Fund) was established under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003 in 2002.
- DBN has the mandate to promote access and delivery of telecommunication service in underserved rural, remote and urban areas.
- DBN is funded by Universal Service Levy charged upon all the telecom fund operators on their Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR).
- The balance of DBN does not lapse at the end of the financial year.
Implementation
- The project is being executed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) namely Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), which was incorporated in 2012 under the Indian Companies Act 1956.