Broadband | Science & Technology for UPSC CSE PDF Download

This covers three sub components, namely Broadband for All - Rural, Broadband for All - Urban and National Information Infrastructure (NII).

Broadband for All - Rural

The BharatNet project, formerly known as the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), aims to connect all 250,000 gram panchayats in India with high-speed broadband internet. As of 2025, the project has made significant progress, with over 200,000 gram panchayats connected, surpassing the initial target of 250,000. The remaining panchayats are expected to be connected by the end of 2025, with a focus on remote and underserved areas. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) continues to oversee the project, working closely with state governments and private sector partners to ensure timely completion and address challenges such as terrain difficulties and funding constraints.

Broadband for All - Urban

Urban broadband access in India has been significantly enhanced by initiatives such as the Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal, launched in May 2022, which streamlines Right of Way (RoW) approvals for laying optical fiber cables and installing telecom towers. Additionally, the Telecommunications Act 2023 and Right of Way Rules 2024 have further simplified RoW permissions, accelerating network expansion in urban areas. These measures, along with the deployment of 5G technology, have contributed to widespread access to high-speed internet services in urban centers.

National Information Infrastructure (NII)

The National Information Infrastructure (NII) integrates various networks, including the State Wide Area Network (SWAN), National Knowledge Network (NKN), BharatNet (formerly NOFN), Government User Network (GUN), and the MeghRaj Cloud, to provide high-speed connectivity and cloud platforms to government departments up to the panchayat level. As of 2025, the integration of these networks is largely complete, with BharatNet playing a crucial role in extending connectivity to rural areas. The NII now provides horizontal connectivity to over 100,000 government offices and service outlets at state, district, block, and panchayat levels, facilitating efficient delivery of e-governance services.

Broadband Highways to rural India

National Broadband Mission

Significance– It will help in achieving fast track growth of digital communications infrastructure, bridge the digital divide, facilitate digital empowerment and inclusion and provide affordable and universal access of broadband for all.
Objective– To empower those people who are living in India’s rural and remote regions with digital connectivity on the back of ongoing BharatNet initiative that aims to connect 250,000 gram panchayats or village blocks with an optic fibre network. Some of the objectives of the Mission which is structured with a strong emphasis on the three principles of universality, affordability and quality are:

• Broadband access to all villages by 2025
• Facilitate universal and equitable access to broadband services for across the country and especially in rural and remote areas
• Laying of incremental 40 lakhs route km of Optical Fiber Cable and an increase in tower density from 0.42 to 1.5 tower per thousand of the population by 2025
• Significantly improve the quality of services for mobile and internet
• Develop innovative implementation models for Right of Way (RoW) and to work with States/UTs for having consistent policies pertaining to expansion of digital infrastructure including for RoW approvals required for laying of OFC
• Develop a Broadband Readiness Index (BRI) to measure the availability of digital communications infrastructure and conducive policy ecosystem within a State/UT.
• Creation of a digital fibre map of the Digital Communications network and infrastructure, including Optical Fiber Cables and Towers, across the country
• Investment from stakeholders of USD 150 billion (Rs 10 Lakh Crore) including Rs 100,000 crore from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)
• Address policy and regulatory changes required to accelerate the expansion and creation of digital infrastructure and services
• Work with all stakeholders including the concerned Ministries / Departments/ Agencies, and Ministry of Finance, for enabling investments for the Mission

Funding for the mission:
The mission demands an investment of $150 billion (₹10 lakh crore) which include ₹100,000 crores from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

What is the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)?
Providing telecom services in the rural and far places is not profitable so most of the telecom players are reluctant to invest there, due to fewer market forces and need to eliminate digital divide goal, the government is charging Universal Access Levy (UAL) which would be a percentage of the revenue earned by the operators under various licenses. It is in accordance with the National telecom policy 1999.

Broadband Connectivity
Under the National Broadband Mission, broadband connectivity is defined as providing a minimum download speed of 100 Mbps to all gram panchayats. This represents a significant upgrade from the 2004 definition, which specified a minimum speed of 256 kbps. The updated standard reflects the growing demand for high-speed internet and the need to support data-intensive applications and services.

The key characteristics of broadband connectivity are

• Always on data connection
• Ability to support interactive services including internet access
• Minimum download speed of 100 Mbps
• Does not include any services for which the internet service provider to procure separate licence such as real time voice transmission.

Targets of the National Broadband Mission
The National Broadband Mission has set the following targets:

• Broadband access to all villages by 2025
• Laying of incremental 40 lakh route km of Optical Fiber Cable by 2025
• Increasing tower density from 0.42 to 1.5 tower per thousand population by 2025
• Providing a minimum of 100 Mbps bandwidth to each gram panchayat

Technology Options for Broadband Services

In addition to traditional technologies like optical fiber, DSL, cable TV, satellite, and terrestrial wireless, new technologies such as 5G and satellite internet have emerged as viable options for providing broadband connectivity. 5G technology, with its high-speed and low-latency capabilities, is being rolled out across urban and rural areas, offering a significant boost to internet speeds and reliability. Satellite internet, provided by companies like Starlink, is also being explored as a means to provide broadband access to remote and underserved areas.

The Policy emphasized on the implementation of broadband services through the copper loop. It also mentioned that Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Limited (MTNL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) would aggressively use their already existing broadband infrastructure to provide broadband services. It also indicated that the private internet service provider will enter into commercial agreements with the MTNL and BSNL to utilize their infrastructure to provide internet services.
Cable networks reached more people than copper telephone connections and therefore, the Policy envisaged that the cable networks can be utilized to provide broadband connections. The Policy also mentioned its intention to use very small aperture terminals (VSAT) and direct-to-home (DTH) for increasing broadband penetration as such technologies can be implemented in remote areas.
The Policy also mentioned that the Government had de-licensed 2.40-2.4835 GHz bands for low power indoor use (including Wi-Fi technologies based on the IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g standards).[2]

Quality of Service
The National Broadband Mission emphasizes the importance of improving the quality of mobile and internet services. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) continues to prescribe and monitor quality of service parameters to ensure that broadband services meet the required standards and provide a satisfactory user experience. New initiatives, such as the deployment of 5G technology, have further enhanced service quality, offering faster speeds and lower latency.

Other Mandates of Policy
Efforts to reduce the cost of bandwidth and promote indigenous manufacturing of broadband equipment remain priorities. The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) plays a crucial role in ensuring that internet traffic is routed efficiently within the country. Collaboration between various government agencies, including the Department of Information Technology and State Electricity Boards, is essential for expanding broadband access, particularly in rural areas. Fiscal incentives and policies to encourage investment in broadband infrastructure are also being pursued to achieve the goals of the National Broadband Mission. The Policy aimed at providing broadband (minimum speed of 256 kbps) to 20 million subscribers. However, as of 2025, the focus has shifted to achieving universal broadband access with significantly higher speeds, reflecting the rapid evolution of digital infrastructure and user demands.

Recent Developments 

1. BharatNet Status & Phase-3 Expansion

• Over 218,000 Gram Panchayats are service-ready under BharatNet; more than 42 lakh km of optical fiber laid; 12.21 lakh FTTH connections and 1.04 lakh+ Wi-Fi hotspots installed in rural areas.

• Phase-3 aims to provide subsidized broadband to 1.5 crore rural households, with a total investment of ₹1.4 lakh crore, and targeted completion within the next two years.

• Several states, including Andhra Pradesh, have revived or integrated stalled fiber grid projects with BharatNet Phase-3 to improve rural connectivity.

2. National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0

• Extended targets to 2030 with focus on household-level connectivity, not just village-level.

• Minimum speed standard of 100 Mbps retained, and a Broadband Quality Index introduced to measure latency, downtime, and user satisfaction.

• Tower density target revised to 2 towers per 1,000 population.

• Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) fund operationalised to replace USOF for flexible rural and remote connectivity financing.

3. 5G and Pre-6G Rollout

• 5G coverage expanded to about 90% of urban and 65% of rural population; fixed wireless access (FWA) being deployed from rural GP-level OFC nodes.

• Pre-6G research on terabit-speed antennas ongoing, with field trials planned in the coming years.

4. Satellite Internet Integration

• Starlink received operational license and signed agreements with major telecom operators for hardware distribution.

• Committed to hosting all Indian user data domestically as per DoT requirements.

• Satellite broadband officially included in NBM 2.0 as a primary option for connectivity in remote Himalayan, desert, and island regions.

5. Regulatory & Policy Reforms

• Telecommunications Act, 2023 replaced the outdated Telegraph Act, 1885.

• Right of Way Rules, 2024 standardised fees nationwide and capped clearance timelines to 15 working days.

• New norms introduced by TRAI for spectrum allocation to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services.

6. Quality of Service (QoS) Measures

• TRAI’s Broadband Service Quality Index (BSQI) ranks ISPs quarterly on speed consistency, latency, and downtime.

• Service Level Agreements (SLAs) made mandatory for rural broadband providers under BharatNet Phase-3, requiring uptime above 95%.

7. Indigenous Manufacturing Boost

• PLI incentives extended to OFC, satellite broadband terminals, and Wi-Fi 7 routers.

• NIXI expanded internet exchange nodes to more than 50 cities to improve domestic routing efficiency.

8. Updated Targets

• Village-level connectivity to exceed 95% completion by year-end; household-level broadband coverage is the new primary goal for the next five years.

• Tower density increased from 0.42 (2020) to 1.35; target now 2.0 by 2030.

• OFC route length already at 42 lakh km, with a target of 55 lakh km by 2030.