What Was the World Record for Bharat Net Phase-1? BharatNet Phase 1: Target Achieved

Government has achieved a significant milestone by completing Phase-1 of the BharatNet project for providing affordable broadband services to citizens and institutions in rural and remote areas. The project achieved a global record of laying of 800 kilometers of optical fiber per day. The BharatNet is the world՚s largest rural broadband project created on the mantra of “Create, Collaborate, and Conquer” .

Bharat Net Phase - 1

Why did the Bharat Net Project Gained Global Record?

  • The project achieved a global record of laying of 800 kilometres of optical fiber per day.

What is the Aim of BharatNet?

  • The project aims is to provide affordable broadband services to citizens and institutions in rural and remote areas, in partnership with States and the private sector.
  • The infrastructure created under BharatNet will be a national asset, accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to the service providers.
  • The project aims to bridge the digital divide present in the country.

What Was the Target of the Phase-1 of BharatNet?

  • The phase-1 of the project aimed at connecting over one lakh Gram Panchayats (GP) across the country with high-speed optical fiber network by Dec 31 2017.

Who Will Benefit from the Phase-1 of the Project?

  • BharatNet network built under Phase 1 envisages delivery of high-speed broadband services in over 2.5 lakh villages benefitting more than 200 million rural Indians.
  • The BharatNet infrastructure is expected to catalyze digital delivery of services for the rural poor - viz. health
    • Education
    • Livelihood
    • Skills
    • e-agriculture
    • e-commerce

Second Phase of the Bharat Net Project?

  • The 2nd phase of the BharatNet is connecting 2 lakh and 50,000 Gram Panchayats with broadband network, which would bring in a rural digital revolution.
  • The deadline for the 2nd phase of BharatNet is March 2019.

Awards on Successful Completion of Phase 1 of the Project

The Department of Telecom felicitated the key performers and stakeholders who significantly contributed to achieve the target:

  • Best performing states: UP (East) , Maharashtra, MP, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand
  • States which covered all the GPs: Kerala, Karnataka and Haryana
  • Best utilization of BharatNet: Karnataka
  • Best performing implementation partners: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd
  • The key highlight of the project was that the telecom equipment deployed in the project has been fully designed, developed, and manufactured in India. Thus giving a boost to Make in India project.

Why were the tariffs of BharatNet Revised?

  • The tariff for BharatNet was also revised to attract more Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to use the infrastructure to provide high-speed broadband services in the rural areas through Wi-Fi, FTTH, and for developing utilisation models by TSPs and Common Service Centres (CSC) .

Advantages of BharatNet Implementation?

  • mode of connectivity by aerial OFC has several advantages
  • lower cost
  • speedier implementation
  • easy maintenance
  • utilization of existing power line infrastructure

Examrace Team at Aug 24, 2021