Ongoing Schemes

BharatNet Project

The BharatNet project, one of the flagship schemes of the Government of India, was launched to provide broadband connectivity to 2.5 lakhs Gram Panchayats in the country. The project was designed to provide non-discriminatory access to the network to all the telecom service providers to enable the launch of various digital services such as e-health, e-education, e-governance, etc in rural areas.

PROJECTS

BharatNet Project

BharatNet, one of the biggest rural telecom projects in the world, implemented in a phased manner to all Gram Panchayats (approximately 2.5 lakh) in the country for providing non-discriminatory access to broadband connectivity to all the telecom service providers. Objective is to enable access providers like mobile operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Cable TV operators, content providers to launch various services such as applications like e-health, e-education and e-governance in rural and remote India. The project has been approved by Union Cabinet on 25.10.2011. The project is being executed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) namely Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), which has been incorporated on 25.02.2012 under Indian Companies Act 1956. On 30.04.2016, the Telecom Commission approved to implement the project in three phases.

Amended BharatNet Program

The Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) emphasizes the transformation of the existing BharatNet infrastructure into a resilient IP‑MPLS ring‑based architecture, replacing earlier linear topologies. This architecture enhances network redundancy, availability, and fast fault restoration, while supporting advanced features such as Quality of Service (QoS), secure virtual routing, and seamless integration with state and national networks. Centralized and State Network Operation Centres (NOCs), fault management, performance tracking, and service assurance.

CTDP for NER

The Government approved a proposal to implement a Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for the North-Eastern Region. The project aims at providing mobile coverage to the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

PROJECTS

Uncovered Villages of Arunachal Pradesh and Two Districts of Assam

The proposal for 4G mobile coverage to a total of 2374 identified uncovered villages by installation of 1511 mobile towers in Arunachal Pradesh and two districts of Assam at a cost of Rs 2028.80 crore was approved on 09.12.2020. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was floated on 04.03.2021 for selection of implementing agency through open competitive bidding process. Letters of Interest were issued on 31.08.2021 to M/s Bharti Hexacom Limited (M/s BHL) for Arunachal Pradesh and to M/s Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited for two districts of Assam (Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao). The agreements were signed on 29.10.2021 with M/s Bharti Hexacom Limited (BHL) for Arunachal Pradesh and on 01.11.2021 with M/s Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (M/s RJIL) for two districts of Assam.

Uncovered Villages and National Highways of Meghalaya

The agreement was signed with M/s Bharti Hexacom Limited (M/s BHL) on 04.09.2020. The project envisages 4G-based mobile coverage by installing 878 mobile towers in 1164 uncovered villages and 11 mobile towers along national highways at a cost of Rs 726.65 crore.

Uncovered Villages

This scheme aims to provide connectivity to various uncovered villages and aspirational villages.

PROJECTS

502 Uncovered Villages

The scheme was planned for provisioning of 4G based mobile services in 502 uncovered villages of aspirational districts of four states, viz., Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan at a cost of Rs 686.71 crore. The tender for selecting the implementing agencies was floated on 19.05.2020. The agreements were signed with the project implementing agencies i.e. M/s Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL) for Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh bidding unit, M/s Bharati Airtel Limited for the Bihar bidding unit and M/s Bharati Hexacom Limited for Rajasthan bidding unit. The installation work is under progress. An additional order for 27 uncovered villages of Bharwani District, Madhya Pradesh under the scheme was issued on 12.09.2022.

7287 Aspirational Villages

The scheme for provisioning of 4G based mobile services in 7287 uncovered villages of 44 aspirational districts of five states, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Odisha was approved on 17.11.2021. The RFP was floated on 07.12.2021 and the agreements were signed with M/s Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL) for three States and M/s Bharti Airtel Limited (BAL) for two states on 20.05.2022 at a total cost of ₹3685 Crore.

Saturation of 4G Mobile Services

The project for saturation of 4G mobile services in uncovered villages across the country was approved on 27.07.2022 at a total cost of Rs. 26,316 crore. The project will provide 4G mobile services in 24,680 uncovered villages in remote and difficult areas. The project has a provision to include 20% additional villages on account of rehabilitation, new-settlements, withdrawal of services by existing operators etc.

In addition, 6,279 villages having only 2G or 3G connectivity shall be upgraded to 4G. The project will be executed by M/s Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) using Atmanirbhar Bharat’s 4G technology stack and will be funded through Universal Service Obligation Fund.

Further, the revised scope for saturation of 4G mobile services now includes 23,257 new sites and 947 upgrade sites, where locations currently having only 2G or 3G connectivity shall be upgraded to 4G services.

Border Out Posts & Border Intelligence Posts Project

The Union Cabinet on 24.03.2023 has approved the Project for the Provision of 4G based mobile services at 1,117 locations of Border Out Posts (BOPs) of BGFs and Border Intelligence Posts (BIPs) of IB on nomination basis to BSNL. 279 additional locations were also forwarded by MHA have been added in the schemes.

LWE Affected…

The scheme aims to connect all rural and far-flung villages in the LWE zones ensuring proper delivery of citizen services and empowered security forces.

PROJECTS

Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Phase II

The proposal of installing 4072 mobile towers with 2G and 4G technology at locations identified by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in left wing extremism (LWE) affected areas was approved on 23.05.2018 with subsidy support of Rs 7330 crore (excluding taxes) from Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund. The roll-out period was 18 months from the date of signing of the contract with implementing agencies. A tender was floated for revised 2217 tower locations identified by Ministry of Home Affairs at an estimated cost of Rs 3214.65 crore on 04.11.2019. The tender was re-floated on 11.03.2021 with a revised number of 2542 tower sites for “provisioning of 4G based mobile services at tower locations identified by Ministry of Home Affairs in Left Wing Extremism (LWE-II) affected areas”. The agreement was signed with M/s Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL) on 30.09.2021 and with M/s Bharti Airtel Limited (BAL) on 1.10.2021.

Left Wing Extremism LWE Phase I 4G Upgradation

Union Cabinet has approved the upgradation of existing LWE towers from 2G to 4G and O&M extension of existing Towers with an estimated cost of ₹2,426 Crore (₹541.80 Cr. for O&M of existing 2G sites and ₹1,884.59 Cr for 4G upgradation) by BSNL on nomination basis on 27.04.2022. Agreement has been signed with M/s BSNL on 09.05.2024 for upgradation of existing sites from 2G to 4G.

The target of LWE Phase 1 4G upgradation is 2,335 sites to provide 4G mobile connectivity. Implementation work is in progress.

Others Projects

Projects were approved to harness new digital technologies and platforms to unlock productivity and reach unserved and underserved markets, leading to economic growth and development and ensuring access to next-generation services for its citizens.

PROJECTS

Hiring of International Bandwidth for Internet Connectivity

Hiring of 10 Gbps International Bandwidth for Internet Connectivity to Agartala from Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL), Bangladesh, via Cox Bazar:

To make available high-quality and high-speed internet access to the states of the Northeastern region of the country, Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund signed an agreement with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on 18.08.2021 for the hiring of international bandwidth for internet connectivity to Agartala from Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL), Bangladesh via Cox Bazar or Kuakata. The first 10 Gbps link was commissioned on 26.11.2021 and the second 10 Gbps link was commissioned on 21.04.2022.

As per the Agreement, USO Fund shall provide financial support of Rs 17.15 crore to M/s Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for over three years for hiring the aforesaid international bandwidth.

Digital Satellite Phone Terminals (DSPTs)

Re-provisioning of Digital Satellite Phone Terminals (DSPTs) provided to Ministry of Home Affairs agencies (Central Armed Police Forces), Ministry of Defence agencies (Army, Border Roads Organisation, etc.) and other agencies using V-SAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) connectivity under Bharat Net Project.

These Digital Satellite Phone Terminals (DSPTs) are provided in remote, rural, far-flung and difficult terrain where no coverage from any other operator is available. As a short-term measure, INMARSAT terminals were provided to Ministry of Home Affairs agencies (Central Armed Police Forces, Border Security Forces, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Sashastra Seema Bal, etc)) and Ministry of Defence agencies (Indian Army & Border Roads Organisation) to meet their critical communication needs. In its meeting on 20.12.2019, Digital Communications Commission (DCC) approved the proposal to provide Digital Satellite Phone Terminals (DSPT) to these agencies using V-SAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) connectivity.