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The pilot started in October last year was meant to provide wired broadband connections to 100,000 rural households, but nearly 200,000 connections have already been provided under the scheme due to demand, a DoT official said. “We are seeking the approval from DCC<\/a> (Digital Communications Commission) to expand the project to 500,000 connections.”
DCC, which is the highest decision-making body of DoT, is likely to approve the scheme at its meeting scheduled for March 20, the official said.
The government is utilising BharatNet<\/a> optical fibre network in collaboration with BSNL to provide the connections. “Such kind of arrangement benefits both BSNL as well as utilisation of BharatNet,” the official told ET.
The BSNL FTTH connections will be offered in areas where BharatNet fibre rollout has been completed.
So far, 198,408 gram panchayats have been connected through the BharatNet project and 613,868 km of optic fibre cable have been laid.
This is the latest instance of the government trying to utilise and monetise BharatNet fibre even as efforts to bring in private investment and partners for the project are yet to succeed.
An official said if BSNL succeeds in using the BharatNet fibre, it will give a positive signal to the private players also.
The government is also working on a revised public-private partnership (PPP) strategy for the BharatNet project, the second official said.
A PPP model floated in 2021 for BharatNet had failed as no bids were received even though the government had engaged with private players, including telecom operators and internet service providers.