SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | SDG 4: Quality Education | SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) | Ministry of Communications
The Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP), approved with a massive outlay of ₹1,39,579 crore, represents the third and most ambitious phase of India’s mission to bridge the digital divide. Shifting from earlier models, the ABP adopts a Design, Built, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) framework to provide high-speed optical fiber connectivity to 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) using a resilient ring topology. Beyond the GPs, the programme aims to extend fiber access to approximately 3.8 lakh non-GP villages on a demand-driven basis, ensuring that no rural community is left behind.
Key technical and operational shifts in the amended programme include:
IP-MPLS Architecture: The network will utilize Internet Protocol Multi-Protocol Label Switching (IP-MPLS) technology, featuring routers at both Block and GP levels with 10 Gbps downward links in Blocks and 1 Gbps at GPs.
BharatNet Udyami Model: A unique entrepreneurship-led model for last-mile connectivity, where local Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) are incentivized to provide and maintain connections to households and institutions.
Service Quality Mandates: The programme guarantees a minimum 25 Mbps download speed for every FTTH subscriber and targets a network uptime of over 98% through a Centralized Network Operating Centre (CNOC).
Institutional Saturation: As part of the Union Budget 2025-26, the programme will prioritize high-speed broadband to all Government Secondary Schools and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in rural areas to enable telemedicine and digital education.
Long-term Sustainability: Unlike previous phases, the ABP includes Operations and Maintenance (O&M) for 10 years, with provision for power backups and a Remote Fibre Monitoring System (RFMS) to ensure consistent reliability.
What is Ring Topology in telecommunications? It is a network configuration where each node (or GP) is connected to two other nodes, forming a continuous circular data path. This design is significantly more resilient than traditional linear paths because if the fiber is cut at any single point, data can automatically be rerouted in the opposite direction around the ring, ensuring that internet services remain uninterrupted for the rural community.
What is BharatNet? The BharatNet Programme, originally launched in 2011 as the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), is the world’s largest rural broadband initiative aimed at providing non-discriminatory high-speed internet to all 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) across India. Managed by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), the project serves as a middle-mile infrastructure that enables service providers—including mobile operators, ISPs, and cable TV providers—to deliver essential digital services like e-health, e-education, and e-governance to over 600 million rural citizens. To date, the project has evolved through three phases: Phase I connected 1 lakh GPs using existing infrastructure; Phase II expanded coverage using a mix of media like radio and satellite; and the current Phase III (Amended BharatNet Program) focuses on a futuristic ring topology and 5G integration with a total outlay of ₹1.39 lakh crore.
Policy Relevance
The Amended BharatNet Programme is the backbone of the Digital India mission and the National Broadband Mission (NBM). By transitioning from a “coverage” mindset to a “consumption and service-delivery” mindset, the government is treating digital access as a utility equivalent to water or electricity. The integration of Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) ensures a more flexible and targeted funding mechanism for remote and border areas. Furthermore, the BharatNet Udyami model serves a dual policy goal: achieving universal broadband while simultaneously driving rural entrepreneurship and job creation within the villages themselves.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the transition to an IP-MPLS ring topology impact the per-subscriber cost of rural broadband and the overall scalability of 5G-ready services in India’s aspirational districts?
Follow the full news here: Amended BharatNet Programme