The Tamil Nadu government is taking decisive steps to implement the BharatNet project within its jurisdiction, albeit later than some other states. The BharatNet initiative, a central government project, aims to provide high-speed internet connectivity to all gram panchayats and villages across India. Confirming the active progress of the BharatNet project in the state, the Tamil Nadu government has set an ambitious target to extend high-speed broadband connectivity to all rural areas by the end of the coming year.
Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, the Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services in Tamil Nadu, emphasized that certain tier-2 cities in the state already enjoy decent internet connectivity. The government’s vision is to deliver 100 Mbps internet connectivity through BharatNet in rural areas. Minister Rajan attributed project delays to the previous administration but expressed determination to achieve fiber-based 100 Mbps internet connectivity across all panchayats in Tamil Nadu within the next year.
With internet connectivity reaching rural areas, the state anticipates a boost to its economy as the market size for online businesses expands. Additionally, citizens will gain more opportunities for online earning and access to learning resources that would otherwise be unavailable without internet access.
The BharatNet Project is financed by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), aiming to provide fiber-based internet connectivity to all rural areas in India. Launched in 2011, the central government established a special purpose vehicle (SPV) called Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) to execute the project. In 2023, BBNL was merged with BSNL to enhance the efficiency of fiber rollout.
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