The Bharat Net project, which aims to deploy high-speed optical fibre-cable network across rural areas of the country has now reached 59,945 Gram Panchayats spanning a distance of 137,515 kms as of November 2016, the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotions (DIPP) said in a report (pdf). This is up from a reach of 36,738 gram panchayts as February 2016. Bharat Net was rebranded from its initial name National Optic Fibre Network (NOFN) in April last year and aims to cover a total of 2.5 lakh gram panchayats. Its aim is to connect 90,000 villages by fiscal 2017 end. The project is funded under the Universal Services Obligation Fund—set up by the government in 2002 for providing telecommunications services in rural areas at subsided rates. Interestingly, in an agreement (pdf) made with Bharat Broadband Network Limited earlier in 2014, USOF…
