Amended BharatNet Programme: Rs 24.32 billion approved for Andhra Pradesh to connect 13,426 gram panchayats

Key facts

• Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), Department of Telecommunications and Andhra Pradesh government signed a memorandum of cooperation for expedited rollout of the Amended BharatNet Programme in the state.
• The Amended BharatNet Programme is a Rs 1,390 billion publicly funded programme to take optical fibre cable and broadband to every village.
• Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infrastructure Limited, a new special purpose vehicle, will implement the programme covering 13,426 gram panchayats.
• The project includes upgradation of 1,692 Phase I gram panchayats from linear to ring topology, coverage of 11,254 Phase II gram panchayats, and inclusion of 480 newly created gram panchayats.
• An additional 3,942 villages will receive connectivity on demand to strengthen last-mile access.
• Government of India has approved financial support of Rs 24.32 billion for the programme in Andhra Pradesh.
• The initiative targets over 0.5 million rural home fibre connections with government of India support.