It has been over two decades since the cabinet cleared the BharatNet project, earlier known as National Optical Fibre Network. However, progress of the programme has been slow. While the government had set the target of connecting 100,000 gram panchayats by 2013, it took another four years to achieve this target in December 2017. Progress under the current administration has improved, but the government has again missed its targets.
Broadband connectivity to villages has been lagging, with delay in laying of an optical fibre network up to gram panchayats
IMD is preparing a concept paper on narrowing its grid resolution from 22 sq km to 10 sq km.
A DoT panel has suggested completely opening up the telecom sector to foreign direct investment, a move which is expected to bring in fresh funds into the industry that is facing a financial crisis.
UP East tops number of rural internet users; Urban internet subscriber base stands at 231 million, rural at 112 million
Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad is learnt to have approached Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for additional funds to carry out schemes committed under Universal Services Obligation fund scheme.
Other than Gujarat, Odisha and West Bengal, call centres would come up in Assam, Manipur, Tripura.
The world's biggest social network Facebook wants to connect more people to internet in India which accounts for the third largest online user base globally after China and the US but has a very low internet penetration growth rate.
India is ranked below Bhutan and Sri Lanka in terms of broadband penetration, says TRAI.
Fast paced growth in computer literacy and greater use of data on mobiles will help India's Internet economy grow to $200 billion or 5 per cent of the GDP by 2020.
Seeks clarification on a few issues such as enhancement of entry fee and performance bank guarantee from telecom regulator
.jpg)
Though the party's pre-poll promises include increasing the focus on technology, this isn't a new idea.
All credit to the finance minister for walking the fiscal and expectation tightrope extremely well in his budget speech, says Ganesh Natarajan.
'Our mandate is to work in a transparent manner, keeping two objectives in mind - consumer interest and growth of the telecom sector.'
Appropriate policies will increase connectivity much more than spectrum auctions, says Shyam Ponappa.
Railway Budget is the first indicator of possibly better days
India must change approach and have better access to networks to fulfil its digitisation dream.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar discusses five issues pivotal for the success of Digital India
'If Facebook were a country, it would be the third most populous one and the most connected.'
Indian economy about to take-off
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances