As informed by the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, for providing high bandwidth capacity internet/broadband connectivity and mobile services to remote & rural villages and islands in the country that currently lack coverage, a number of steps & projects have been taken up with funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) [erstwhile Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)], Department of Telecommunications (DoT). BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. As of February 2026, about 2,17,805 GPs have been made service ready under BharatNet project in the country including 10,886 GPs in Tamil Nadu. Further, Amended BharatNet Program (ABP), approved by the Government of India on 04.08.2023, is under implementation for up-gradation of existing network of BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II thereby ensuring creation of network in balance GPs, and further the connectivity to remaining non-GP villages on demand basis.

Under 4G Saturation Project and other mobile projects, till February 2026, 24,263 mobile towers have been commissioned in uncovered remote & rural areas of the country. Commissioning of submarine optical fibre cable between Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (2312 Km) and between Mainland (Kochi) and Lakshadweep Islands (1869 km), and creation of 225Km OFC network in Lakshadweep Islands for provision of FTTH & other services have facilitated faster roll out of fixed line broadband/internet services, mobile services (4G/5G) and other high-speed data services in the Islands.

The Department of Rural Development with the support of the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Centre for Development of Advance Computing (CDAC) and Digital India Corporation (DIC) has designed, developed and implemented various IT driven solutions for implementation of its flagship schemes. In order to mitigate digital divide and to ensure last mile reach, the digital governance solutions delivering services at Gram Panchayat level are developed with offline capabilities, divyang friendly platforms and simple user interface with multi-lingual facilities. This ensures that access to these solutions are not limited to internet connected areas but also to remote or non-connected areas.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Kamlesh Paswan in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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