Implementation strategy of BharatNet through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode in 16 states of the country
The Union Cabinet on June 30, 2021, approved the revised implementation strategy of BharatNet through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode in 16 states of the country, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Haryana, Tripura, Kerala, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Punjab, and West Bengal.
Under these 16 states, the BharatNet project will be offered across approximately 3.61 lakh villages including Gram Panchayats in the country.
Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister Communications, Electronics and IT said, “The revised strategy also includes creation, upgrading, operation, maintenance and utilization of BharatNet by the concessionaire who will be selected by a competitive international bidding process.”
A maximum Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of Rs 19,041 crores has been approved for the BharatNet PPP model.
BharatNet is the world’s largest rural broadband project using optical fiber. The project was implemented by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) by the Department of Telecommunication under the Ministry of Communications.
A reliable, quality, high-speed broadband under the BharatNet will enable villages in accessing e-services being offered by several states and central government agencies.
A reliable, quality, high-speed broadband under the BharatNet will enable villages in accessing e-services being offered by several states and central government agencies.
The project will further enable access to telemedicine, online education, e-commerce, skill development, and other applications.
Such proliferation of BharatNet in rural areas will help in bridging the rural-urban divide of digital access and move towards achieving Digital India.
The BharatNet PPP Model will offer consumer-friendly advantages including
(i) use of innovative technology by the concessionaire for the consumers to offer quick connectivity to consumers,
(ii) faster deployment of the network,
(iii) high quality of services to consumers,
(iv) competitive tariffs for services, and
(v) access to all online services multimedia services and Over-the-top (OTT) services.
