Parl panel flags gaps in BharatNet rollout

A parliamentary committee has highlighted shortcomings in the implementation of BharatNet, the Indian government's flagship rural broadband initiative, and urged a thorough audit to pinpoint obstacles and guarantee connectivity for all Gram Panchayats. The Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, in its 32nd Report on Digital Bharat Nidhi, pointed out that while the program has seen significant infrastructure development, the count of operational Gram Panchayats with broadband remains below the universal coverage target.

As of February 28, 2026, BharatNet Points of Presence (PoPs) were operational in 78,899 out of approximately 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats nationwide. PoPs serve as local network nodes enabling the extension of broadband connectivity to homes, institutions, and other users. The committee noted that while substantial infrastructure has been established, the rollout pace is inconsistent across states and implementation models, revealing cracks in planning, coordination, and execution.

The committee called for a thorough, model-wise, and state-wise performance audit of BharatNet to identify and resolve implementation bottlenecks. They also requested a revised, time-bound roadmap with clear accountability for achieving universal connectivity to Gram Panchayats.

The Department of Telecommunications informed the panel that 7.19 lakh kilometers of optical fiber cable had been laid under the program as of February 28, 2026. Optical fiber cables form the backbone of the network, facilitating long-distance data transmission. The Department also disclosed that Rs 40,635 crore had been disbursed from the Digital Bharat Nidhi, a dedicated fund supporting telecom expansion in rural and underserved areas, for BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II by February 28.

BharatNet was initially approved by the Union Cabinet in October 2011 as the National Optical Fibre Network, aiming to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats. It was later rebranded as BharatNet and became a crucial rural connectivity program under the Digital India initiative. Phase-I was completed in December 2017, and Phase-II was approved in July 2017.

The committee expressed concern over the utilization of the infrastructure already developed. The Department reported that there were 9,48,237 active Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections under BharatNet, all in rural areas, as of February 28, 2026. FTTH refers to the direct extension of optical fiber connections to individual homes or users for broadband internet access.

Despite the extensive infrastructure and dedicated funding, the committee observed a sub-optimal utilization of the network relative to its scale and potential, with benefits of digital connectivity not yet fully reaching rural and remote areas. They recommended a stronger emphasis on increasing FTTH connections and enhancing the utilization of the existing network.