BharatNet Connects 2.15 Lakh Gram Panchayats; 4.09 Lakh Hotspots Boost Rural Digital Connectivity

New Delhi — India’s large-scale expansion of optical fibre networks, 5G services, and digital public infrastructure has brought connectivity to more than 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats through the BharatNet initiative, the government said on Sunday.

Nationwide optical fibre deployment has grown significantly, increasing from 19.35 lakh route kilometres in 2019 to 42.36 lakh route kilometres in 2025. Meanwhile, 5G connectivity now covers 99.9 per cent of districts across the country, supported by more than 5.18 lakh base transceiver stations as of December 2025, according to an official statement.

Under the Prime Minister Wi?Fi Access Network Interface (PM?WANI) scheme, a total of 4,09,111 Wi-Fi hotspots have been deployed so far. These are supported by 207 PDO Aggregators and 113 App Providers as of February 2026, aiming to deliver affordable and high-speed public internet access, particularly in rural and remote regions.

The government noted that integrating last-mile connectivity with digital literacy initiatives, affordable internet access, and platforms linking markets and welfare schemes strengthens rural livelihoods. It also ensures timely delivery of government benefits and encourages wider participation in India’s digital economy.

Cloud and data centre infrastructure is also expanding rapidly to support digital governance and AI-ready systems. India’s data centre capacity currently stands at around 1,280 megawatts and is projected to increase four to five times by 2030.

Through MeghRaj (GI Cloud), more than 2,170 ministries and departments are already hosting applications on secure and scalable government cloud platforms.

The government further highlighted that mobile data costs in India have dropped sharply — from Rs 269 per GB in 2014 to around Rs 8–10 per GB in 2025–2026 — making it one of the cheapest data markets globally. Broadband subscriptions crossed the 100-crore mark in November 2025, representing a sixfold rise from 13.15 crore a decade ago.

Under the National Supercomputing Mission, 38 supercomputers with a combined capacity of 44 Petaflops have been installed across institutions nationwide. The initiative is designed to expand advanced computing capabilities beyond major metropolitan centres, enabling universities, startups, researchers, and industries to access high-performance computing resources for fields such as AI, climate modelling, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing.

Key pillars of India’s digital public infrastructure — including Aadhaar, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and DigiLocker — have transformed basic internet access into tangible social and economic benefits. These platforms enable seamless service delivery, expand financial inclusion, and promote secure digital interactions, helping bridge access gaps and integrate citizens more deeply into the digital economy.

—With inputs from IANS