The Indian government will extend subsidised broadband services to 1.5 crore rural households as part of BharatNet Phase 3, announced Minister of State for Telecom Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani during the India Mobile Congress 2025 roadshow.
BharatNet is recognised as the world’s largest rural broadband project, having already connected more than 2.18 lakh gram panchayats with high-speed optical fibre. The minister said that the government has invested USD 18 billion (approximately Rs 1.4 lakh crore) to connect an additional 40,000 gram panchayats, maintain existing connections, and expand broadband access to rural homes.
Highlighting India’s low data prices, Pemmasani said this affordability has helped millions to access the internet, driving digital participation across the country. He added that a decade ago, India faced a significant digital divide, but has since emerged as a digital leader. India now has the fastest 5G rollout globally, with more than 4.7 lakh sites deployed in just over two years, covering 99.6 percent of districts.
Government Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal said the India Mobile Congress is not just an event but a platform that reflects the telecom sector’s contribution to economic growth, digital inclusion, e-commerce, and national security. He said while India was slow to adopt 4G, it has now matched global progress in 5G and is preparing to lead in 6G.
Mittal also spoke about the challenges in the heavily regulated telecom sector, dominated by international players, and how government efforts such as the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) are helping startups reduce risk and grow. So far, the government has approved around Rs 500 crore under TTDF for 120 projects focused on 5G, 6G, chipsets, and quantum technologies.
The India Mobile Congress 2025 will be held from October 8 to 11 in New Delhi. The event will carry the theme “Innovate to Transform,” according to COAI Chairman Abhijit Kishore.
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