Bharat Broadband Nigam Limited (BBNL) has stated that it will not be possible to complete the BharatNet (erstwhile National Optical Fibre Network) project before December 2018. The project that aims to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to about 250,000 gram panchayats was supposed to be completed by December 2016 earlier. The project execution has been slow due to delay in procurement of key network equipment.

The company has stated that project commissioning will be delayed on account of a three-fold increase in the scale and cost of the project. The cost of the project has increased from the original estimate of Rs 210 billion to Rs 720 billion, with the government yet to approve the revised cost estimates. Several new tasks including installation of 250,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots have been added to the scope of the project as it has now become a part of the government’s Digital India programme.