Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) has stated that the BharatNet (erstwhile National Optical Fibre Network) project will be placed before the Telecom Commission for approval in October 2015. After securing the same, the project will be placed before the Union Cabinet in November 2015.

BBNL had recently contended that it will not be possible to complete the BharatNet project before December 2018 owing to a three-fold increase in the scale and due to delay in procurement of key network equipment. The project that aims to provide broadband connectivity to 250,000 panchayats in the country, was earlier supposed to be completed by December 2016.

Meanwhile, 18 states have expressed interest to rollout BharatNet project using special purpose vehicles. To this end, the central government has accepted the Tamil Nadu government's proposal to implement the BharatNet project through the state government. Tamil Nadu will make an investment of Rs 30 billion from the central assistance for the project.