Parliament Question: BharatNet Phase-wise Schemes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4060 ANSWERED ON 12TH AUGUST, 2026 BHARATNET PHASE-WISE SCHEMES

4060. SHRI EATALA RAJENDER:

SHRI CHAMALA KIRAN KUMAR REDDY:

WILL the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to strengthen network redundancy and ensure uninterrupted services under BharatNet Phase-wise scheme in the States, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to strengthen network;

(c) whether the Government of Telangana has sought capital expenditure (CAPEX) support for implementing ring conversion topology in BharatNet Phase II areas proposes to significantly improve network resilience and service reliability and this project is linked to approval of Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) by DoT to Telangana, if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon; and

(d) the steps taken/being taken for providing CAPEX support for Ring Conversion in BharatNet Phase II Area for Telangana State? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) & (b) Government of India has approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) for upgradation of the existing network created under Phase-I and Phase-II of BharatNet and create incremental network for new Gram Panchayats (GPs) and to connect the non-GP villages on demand basis. The program includes ring architecture, single Project Implementing Agency

(PIA) for construction and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) and dedicated Network Operation Centre (NOC).

(c) & (d) The Government of India has accorded in-principle approval to the proposal of Government of Telangana for implementation of Amended BharatNet Program in the State with provisioning of ₹3,189 crore including CAPEX to upgrade & connect 12,769 GPs in ABP and agreement for the same has already been shared with Government of Telangana.

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