BHARATNET PROJECT - GOVERNMENT SCHEME

News: DoT proposes to drop Bharatnet infra from asset monetisation plan

 

What's in the news?

       The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has proposed not to monetise rural broadband network infrastructure built under Bharatnet project and plans to replace it with alternative assets to achieve its target fixed under the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), sources said.

 

Key takeaways:

       The government has monetised assets worth ₹33,422 crore under the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) in 2022-23 so far, with the Coal Ministry leading the list by raising ₹17,000 crore, and the Ports and Shipping Ministry surpassing its overall fiscal target.

       In 2021-22, the government surpassed the programme's first-year target of ₹88,000 crore by completing transactions worth ₹1 lakh crore.

 

Bharatnet Project:

       It is a project envisioned by the Government of India to digitally connect all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Villages of India.

       It originally aimed to provide broadband services at 100 Mbps to around 2.5 lakh gram panchayats of the country.

       It is a highly scalable network infrastructure accessible on a non-discriminatory basis.

       It is the world’s largest rural connectivity scheme to be connected by the Optical Fibre network.

 

Aim:

       To provide on-demand, affordable broadband connectivity of 2 Mbps to 20 Mbps for all households of India especially in rural areas.

 

Implementing Agency:

       The project is being implemented by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

 

Funding:

       The entire project is being funded by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), which was set up for improving telecom services in rural and remote areas of the country.

 

Phases of the Project:

       1st Phase: It will provide 1 lakh gram panchayats with broadband connectivity by laying underground Optic Fibre Cable (OFC) lines by December 2017.

       2nd Phase: It will provide connectivity to all the gram panchayats in the country. It will use an optimal mix of underground fiber, fiber over power lines, radio and satellite media by March 2019.

       3rd Phase: From 2019 to 2023, a state-of-the-art, future-proof network, including fiber between districts and blocks will be laid down. Ring topology will be used to reduce latency and fasten the services.

 

Scope of works:

The scope of work under BharatNet PPP Project includes:

       Connecting the remaining unconnected GPs under BharatNet project (Phase 1 & Phase 2) and all the inhabited Villages beyond the GPs.

       Upgradation of the existing BharatNet Network from Linear to Ring topology.

       Operation and Maintenance (O&M) and Utilisation of the existing as well as the newly deployed network.

 

Benefits:

       It would reduce the cost of broadband services in India.

       It would have advantages like easy maintenance, faster implementation, and utilization of the present power line infrastructure.

       It would provide internet connectivity to citizens especially in rural areas via Wi-Fi Hotspots.

       It would provide a boost to the economy and would generate around 10 crore man-days of employment during the rollout of the project.

       It will help in the expedition of government’s initiatives such as Make In India, Start-up India, Stand-up India etc

       It is considered to be the backbone of ‘Digital India’ aiming to reduce the digital divide between urban and rural India.