BharatNet

BharatNet is an Indian government initiative to provide broadband connectivity to rural areas by deploying a nationwide optical fibre network that connects gram panchayats. The program aims to deliver high-speed internet to public institutions and households in rural India, supporting e-governance, education, healthcare, and economic activity.

The project originated as the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), announced in 2011–12, and was later rebranded as BharatNet. Its backbone network links gram panchayats to district and state centers. The implementation is carried out by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), a government-owned company created to deploy NOFN/BharatNet.

Technology and scope-wise, BharatNet provides the fibre backbone to gram panchayats with last-mile access often handled by state agencies or private operators. The aim has been to offer significant bandwidth, initially around 100 Mbps to panchayats, with capacity upgrades as demand grows. The network is intended to support a wide range of digital services, including education, telemedicine, and local governance.

Status and progress: BharatNet targets connecting all 2.5 lakh gram panchayats in India. Rollout involves a mix of government funding, state participation, and private-sector collaboration for last-mile connectivity, aligned with the Digital India initiative. The program seeks to enable reliable internet access in rural areas and to catalyze digital inclusion.

Impact and challenges: If fully realised, BharatNet could reduce the rural digital divide and expand access to online services. Challenges include funding, right-of-way, procurement, maintenance, and ensuring sustainable, reliable last-mile connectivity to households.