The world’s largest rural broadband connectivity project, the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), now renamed BharatNet, aims to connect about 250,000 gram panchayats through an optical fibre network. BharatNet has been envisaged as a non-discriminatory infrastructure platform that will provide network and service access to all industry stakeholders including state-owned operators, private operators and internet service providers.

Announced in 2011, the project is being implemented by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), a special purpose vehicle of the Government of India. As part of the project, BBNL has entrusted three state-owned entities – Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), RailTel and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (Powergrid) – with the task of rolling out fibre across the country. BSNL is responsible for laying fibre in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. RailTel is responsible for Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and the north-eastern states, and Powergrid is undertaking fibre-related work in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Odisha and Himachal Pradesh.

The project, originally planned to be completed by December 2013, is running behind schedule and, as per revised timelines, is expected to be completed by December 2016. The delay in the project can be attributed to the slow speed of execution, lack of trained manpower for digging and trenching work, and inadequate supply of ducts, fibre and optical equipment. Since BharatNet is the first-of-its kind large-scale broadband project, the government agencies are facing operational challenges in digging and trenching work in areas with tough terrain. In addition, there is a lack of experienced contractors for project execution in various states. Difficulty in obtaining right-of-way (RoW) permission in some states has also been responsible for the slow pace of project implementation.

The government, on its part, has taken several measures to address the challenges associated with the project. It has set up a committee to bring in private players for project execution. At present, government agencies are laying cable ducts covering 350 km per day. At this rate, it will be difficult for the government to complete the project on time. However, the participation of private players in the cable laying work is expected to fast-track the project. Further, the government is training the workforce and putting in more man-hours to speed up the cable laying and trenching work. In order to address issues regarding RoW clearances, it is working closely with organisations and departments such as the National Highways Authority of India, the Department of Forests, and Indian Railways.

In addition to the above challenges, BBNL has identified other key issues and shortcomings that emerged during pilot runs undertaken by it. These include the lack of market dynamics to leverage the infrastructure created, the lack of affordable internet-led services for rural users and low private sector participation in the project. The government is working to overcome these limitations by identifying new opportunities and business models, such as establishing common service centres to be co-located with gram panchayats, setting up Wi-Fi hotspots for providing broadband services to customers through prepaid billing, extending broadband connectivity to schools, health centres and banks across gram panchayats, and promoting e-commerce and a digital payment ecosystem.

Despite the challenges, BBNL is committed to making BharatNet a success and a key tool in achieving the government’s Digital India vision. By establishing fibre connectivity between blocks and gram panchayats and broadband connectivity at 100 Mbps, BharatNet will expand broadband connectivity in rural areas and promote crucial services such as e-education, e-healthcare, e-commerce and e-governance.