BharatNet transforming India into digitally empowered society: Jyotiraditya Scindia
Union Minister speaks in the Rajya Sabha during a discussion on BharatNet and digital connectivity, in New Delhi on Thursday.
NEW DELHI: BharatNet is transforming India into a digitally empowered society, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday, highlighting the rapid expansion of broadband infrastructure and digital connectivity across the country.
Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, said BharatNet is one of the world’s largest government-led connectivity programmes aimed at providing internet access to every citizen.
Over the last eleven years, India has witnessed an unprecedented expansion in mobile and broadband connectivity, driving a historic digital transformation, Jyotiraditya Scindia said.
Mobile subscribers have increased from 930 million in 2014 to 1.2 billion, with mobile penetration rising from 75 per cent to 92 per cent. Internet subscribers have grown from 250 million in 2014 to over one billion, taking penetration from 20 per cent to nearly 71.8 per cent. Broadband subscribers have surged from 61 million to over one billion, while average fixed broadband speeds now stand at 61.55 Mbps.
Under BharatNet Phases I and II, nearly 2.14 lakh of the country’s 2.56 lakh gram panchayats have been connected through Optical Fibre Cable at an approximate cost of ₹42,000 crore.
In Tamil Nadu, which opted to implement the project through its special purpose vehicle Tanfinet instead of BSNL, 10,869 of the 12,525 gram panchayats have been made service-ready. The remaining gram panchayats and 4,767 non-gram panchayat villages will be covered under the Amended BharatNet Programme, a $16.9 billion initiative described as the largest government-led connectivity programme globally.
NBM 2.0 charts roadmap to 2030
National Broadband Mission 2.0 lays clear roadmap for universal broadband access by 2030, Jyotiraditya Scindia said, outlining seven key targets set under the mission launched on April 1, 2025.
Optical fibre connectivity with 95 per cent uptime has reached 42,000 villages as of December 2025, with a target of 2.7 lakh villages by 2030. Broadband connectivity to anchor institutions, including schools, anganwadis and panchayat offices, stands at 68.8 per cent, with a goal of 90 per cent by 2030.
The national average fixed broadband speed is 61.55 Mbps, with a target of 100 Mbps by 2030. The average Right of Way application disposal time has been reduced from 455 days to 30.4 days, achieving the 2030 target ahead of schedule. Fibre mapping across government PSUs under the PM GatiShakti NMP platform has reached 94 per cent, with full coverage targeted by March. Rural internet subscribers per 100 population stand at 47.16, with a target of 60 by 2030. Sustainable energy usage in mobile towers is currently 12.38 per cent, targeted to rise to 30 per cent by 2030.
Call for faster ROW compliance
Cooperation from States in implementing Right of Way regulations will significantly accelerate broadband expansion and ensure timely benefits to citizens, Jyotiraditya Scindia said.
Out of 36 States and Union Territories, 33 have implemented the Telecommunications Right of Way Rules, 2024. Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are yet to complete compliance. The national average for ROW application processing is 30.4 days, while Tamil Nadu records an average of 85 days.
The Minister reiterated that continued Centre–State collaboration will be critical to achieving inclusive digital growth across rural and remote regions.
Tamil Nadu status under NBM
In a written reply on the National Broadband Mission in Tamil Nadu, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia said operational OFC connectivity with 95 per cent uptime is available in 4,325 villages in the State as of January 2026. Broadband connectivity to anchor institutions has reached 84.74 per cent.
Rural internet subscribers per 100 population in Tamil Nadu stand at 54.53 as of September 2025. The average ROW disposal time in the State during 2025–26 is 84.9 days.
Under the 4G saturation project, 255 Base Transceiver Stations have been deployed to provide coverage to 297 villages as of December 31, 2025. A total of 3,08,907 route kilometres of OFC have been laid in the State by various providers, including around 55,000 route kilometres under BharatNet. As many as 808 Fibre-to-the-Home connections have been provided through BharatNet in Tamil Nadu.
The Amended BharatNet Programme plans to provide FTTH connections to 5,27,506 households in Tamil Nadu over the next ten years. An amount of ₹1,883.17 crore has been allocated and utilised up to December 31, 2025 under various projects, including BharatNet Phase II. The Centre also plans to allocate ₹1,632 crore, excluding GST, including 10-year operational expenditure, for the Amended BharatNet Programme to be implemented by the State government.
