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.

So far, 211,335 Gram Panchayats are connected through the BharatNet project and 681,864 Km of OFC has been laid. Additionally, 924,693 Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) connections are commissioned and 104,675 Wi-Fi hotspots are installed to ensure last-mile connectivity. (as on 18.03.2024)

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 and National Highway (NH) sites

Agreement(s) were signed on 08.12.2017 with the Bharti Airtel Limited/Bharti Hexacomm Limited (i.e USP) for provision of Mobile Services in Identified Uncovered Villages & Along National Highways in Assam, Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh (National Highways only).

The subsidy support to USP from Universal Service Obligation Fund under the agreement(s) is ₹1655.66 crore for covering 2128 villages and along National Highways by installing 2004 mobile towers.

The scope of the agreement(s) includes that the USP shall set up (i.e Supply, Install, Test, and Commission), operate, maintain and manage the respective infrastructure sites required for the effective provision of mobile coverage in the identified uncovered villages along the National Highways and provide mobile services as per the terms and conditions laid down in the agreement(s).

The agreement(s) are valid for a period of 10 years from the date of signing of the agreement(s).

The extended rollout period under the agreement(s) was October 2020. The project's rollout phase is over.

All feasible mobile towers (i.e. 1358) have been commissioned under the agreement(s). The remaining towers could not be commissioned due to pre-existence of mobile coverage, population migrated, pending forest/defence clearances, villages washed out, villages not found, accessibility issues, etc.

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.

CTDP for Islands

Comprehensive Telecom Development Project (CTDP) for islands aims to provide connectivity to Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep via Submarine Optical Fiber Cable and Bandwidth Augmentation to the Island groups.

Telecom Commission, in its meeting held on 07.11.2014, approved in principle an integrated and Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep in accordance with TRAI recommendations dated 22.07.2014 for improving Telecom Services in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. The plan consists of the following schemes:

PROJECTS

Submarine OFC Connectivity to Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The project of connecting Chennai with Port Blair and other islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, viz., Swaraj Deep (Havelock), Long Island, Rangat, Little Andaman (Hutbay), Kamorta, Car Nicobar & Great Nicobar (Campbell Bay) through 2313 km long Submarine Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) was approved on 21.09.2016. The project was commissioned during August 2020 and September 2020.

As per approval of Telecom Commission dated 01.05.2018, the capital expenditure of the project is Rs 947.283 crore (including discovered cost of Rs 677.81 crore plus estimated Rs 60 crore for civil and electrical plus taxes and PMC Rs 77.673 crore) and the operational cost of the project is Rs 46.84 crore per year for 5 years (Rs 276.238 crore plus taxes by Ministry of Home Affairs or Union Territory). The total cost of the project is Rs 1224 crore.

Augmentation of Bandwidth in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The work of augmentation of satellite bandwidth from 2Gbps to 4Gbps in Andaman and Nicobar Islands was awarded to BSNL on a nomination basis. The CAPEX of Rs 36.39 crore (plus applicable taxes) is being funded by Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund, while OPEX (Satellite Transponder charges) is being funded by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)/Union Territory (UT) administration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

4G based Mobile services in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

An agreement was signed between Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund and M/s Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL) on 15.03.2021 for setting up of 82 towers to provide 4G mobile services in identified 85 uncovered villages with a population of more than equal to 10 people and 42 towers for providing 4G mobile services to bridge the gaps in mobile connectivity along uncovered national highways at a cost of Rs 129.58 crore.

Augmentation of Bandwidth in Lakshadweep Island

Work of augmentation of satellite bandwidth from 318 Mbps to 1.71 Gbps in Lakshadweep Islands was awarded to BSNL on a nomination basis. The CAPEX of Rs 28.26 crore plus applicable taxes is being funded by USO Fund while OPEX (Satellite Transponder charges) is being funded by the MHA/UT Administration of Lakshadweep Islands.

Submarine OFC Connectivity to KLI

The project of providing connectivity between Kochi and Lakshadweep Islands through Submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) was approved on 09.12.2020. The project comprises islands of Kavarati and ten other islands from Lakshadweep, viz., Kalpeni, Agatti, Amini, Androth, Minicoy, Bangaram, Bitra, Chetlat, Kiltan and Kadmat. The project is targeted to be implemented by May 2023 i.e. within 1000 days from the date of announcement by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 15.08.2020.

Total financial implication is about Rs 1072 crore (excluding taxes), which includes capital expenditure of Rs 837 crore to be funded by Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund and operational expenditure of Rs. 235 Crore for 5 years is to be funded by Ministry of Home Affairs/Union Territory (UT) administration of Lakshadweep Islands. As per Cabinet approval, letter issued on 18.12.2020, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was nominated as the Project Execution Agency and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) was appointed as the technical consultant of the project.

4G services in Lakshadweep

Hon’ble MoC provided approval in Nov-2021 for the award of the work for augmentation of Telecom infrastructure in Lakshadweep islands to BSNL on nomination basis at the total cost of Rs. 60.61 Cr. The works includes:

(i) upgradation of 19 existing 2G tower sites to 4G mobile services at the cost of Rs.16.91Cr. with target date of completion as 26.11.2023.

(ii) installation of additional 18 new mobile tower sites (including Suheli Island) for provision of 4G mobile services at the cost of Rs.18.81Cr. with target date of completion as 26.11.2023.

Uncovered Villages

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

PROJECTS

354 Uncovered Villages Project

The scheme was planned for provisioning of mobile services in 354 uncovered villages in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and other priority areas by installing 354 mobile towers at a cost of Rs 336.89 crore. An agreement was signed on 28.04.2020 with implementing agency M/s Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL). Certain villages were exempted later due to prior coverage, leaving only 309 villages to be covered as a part of the project.

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.

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.

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.