Kolkata, 11 August (H.S.) : In a major push towards building a digitally connected and developed India, West Bengal is set to witness accelerated expansion of rural broadband infrastructure, with the government aiming to connect all Gram Panchayats and extend optical fibre-based broadband connectivity to villages beyond the panchayat network.

According to the Union Ministry of Communications, the construction phase of the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) in West Bengal is scheduled to be completed within three years from the date of signing of the agreement with the Project Implementing Agency.

The development follows the West Bengal government’s notification on May 15, 2026, for implementation of the Telecommunications Right of Way (RoW) Rules, 2024. The rules are aimed at facilitating faster deployment of telecommunications infrastructure across the state. The Centre has said that the notification, along with the Department of Telecommunications’ decision to notify BharatNet as a Special Project under the Telecommunications RoW Rules, 2024, is expected to accelerate implementation of the Amended BharatNet Programme in West Bengal.

The scale of the expansion can be gauged from the existing BharatNet network. Of the 3,340 Gram Panchayats in West Bengal, 2,767 have already been connected under BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II. The next phase will focus on connecting the remaining Gram Panchayats while also upgrading the existing network established under the earlier phases.

Importantly, the programme will not remain confined to Gram Panchayats. Under the approved ABP, broadband connectivity will also be provided to non-Gram Panchayat villages on a demand basis. This is expected to widen the reach of rural digital infrastructure and take high-speed broadband connectivity beyond the traditional panchayat-level network.

The expansion of optical fibre infrastructure has significance far beyond internet access. Reliable broadband connectivity can provide rural communities with easier access to digital services, online government facilities, educational resources and information, while creating a stronger foundation for participation in the country’s expanding digital economy.

The initiative also fits into the broader vision of a developed and digitally empowered India, where access to modern digital infrastructure is increasingly becoming an essential component of development. Extending optical fibre networks to rural areas can help bridge the digital divide between urban and rural communities and enable villages to become more closely integrated with the wider digital ecosystem.

The Amended BharatNet Programme has been approved under the Design, Build, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) model. Under the programme, all Gram Panchayats in West Bengal will be covered, the existing BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II network will be upgraded, and broadband connectivity will be extended to non-Gram Panchayat villages on demand. The construction phase will run for three years from the date of signing of the agreement with the Project Implementing Agency.

With 2,767 of the state’s 3,340 Gram Panchayats already connected, the new phase represents a move from establishing basic rural connectivity towards expanding and strengthening a more comprehensive village-level digital network.

For West Bengal’s rural population, the expansion could bring the benefits of high-speed digital connectivity closer to their doorsteps. As optical fibre infrastructure reaches more villages, the initiative is expected to strengthen the digital foundation of rural Bengal and support the broader national objective of building a connected, technology-enabled and developed India.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh