India’s BharatNet program, launched in 2011, aims to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to 650,000 villages by 2025. However, as of January 2025, the project has significantly fallen short of its target, with only 199,000 villages (30.4% of the goal) connected to broadband services. Despite ambitious plans and increased budget allocations, the program has faced multiple delays and challenges.
Table of Contents
Current Status and Progress
- Villages Connected: As of January 2025, only 199,000 villages have broadband access under BharatNet.
- Gram Panchayats Connected: Approximately 214,283 Gram Panchayats (village councils) are service-ready, supported by nearly 692,676 km of optical fiber cable laid across the country.
- Last-Mile Connectivity: Efforts to establish Wi-Fi hotspots and Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) connections have been ongoing but remain insufficient to meet the expansive rural coverage goals.
Challenges
- Missed Deadlines: BharatNet has missed several key deadlines since its inception, including those set for 2014, 2019, and 2023. The current target for full implementation by 2025 is also unlikely to be met.
- Regional Inequality: Connectivity in remote and challenging terrains, such as northeastern states, lags behind the national average. For instance, less than 60% of Gram Panchayats in these regions are service-ready compared to a national average of 79%.
- Underutilization of Funds: Poor planning and execution have led to delays in fund utilization and project implementation.
- Coordination Issues: Lack of coordination among implementing agencies and private partners has further slowed progress.
Government Initiatives
The government has recently increased its focus on BharatNet through:
- Budget Allocations: A significant budget increase of ₹22,000 crore for the fiscal year 2025-26 was announced to expand broadband connectivity to government secondary schools and primary healthcare centers in rural areas.
- Phase III Goals: The final phase aims to provide last-mile connectivity using advanced technologies like 5G and FTTH while increasing internet speeds to up to 1 Gbps.
- Digital Inclusion Efforts: BharatNet is being integrated with other initiatives like Digital India to promote e-governance, e-health, e-education, and digital services in rural communities.
Outlook
While BharatNet remains a critical initiative for bridging India’s digital divide, its slow progress indicates that achieving full broadband coverage for all villages by 2025 is improbable. Persistent challenges such as regional disparities, funding inefficiencies, and implementation delays need urgent attention to accelerate progress. Without significant improvements in execution and coordination, the program risks falling short of its transformative potential.