The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Bharat Broadband Networks Limited (BBNL) to maximise their coordination to ensure that the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) rollout is concluded by the March 2016. This direction to BSNL and BBNL comes after the high priority assignment to the NOFN rollout given by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). According to PMO, the NOFN project is the main broadband backbone for delivering government services under the Centre's Digital India initiative.

Recently, BSNL had proposed for additional compensation for expenses incurred by it for deploying manpower, assets and storage space for the NOFN project. However, BSNL is of the view that such expenditure on its part is not justified if there are no suitable provisions by BBNL.  DoT has thus directed both entities to resolve all such issues and to jointly conclude all tendering exercises relating to cable laying and ducting to meet deadlines.

BSNL has been mandated to handle bulk of the cable laying, ducting and trenching responsibilities while the implementing agency BBNL, has been mandated to deliver broadband connectivity as a part of the NOFN project.