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The Union government and the Government of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to accelerate the rollout of the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) in the state, with ₹2,432 crore in central financial support approved to strengthen rural broadband infrastructure.
The agreement was signed between Digital Bharat Nidhi under the Department of Telecommunications and the Andhra Pradesh government in the presence of Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office in Tadepalle.
The partnership aims to expedite implementation of the amended BharatNet programme, which seeks to upgrade and expand India’s rural optical fibre network to deliver robust, future-ready broadband connectivity to every village.
Calling BharatNet one of the world’s most ambitious public digital infrastructure initiatives, Scindia said the amended programme represents a ₹1.39 lakh crore ($16.9 billion) national investment to take optical fibre connectivity to every village in the country. “What we are doing is the democratization of technology for every citizen, enabling talent and aspiration to compete on a global stage,” he said.
Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said the memorandum provides a structured, state-led framework that combines financial support with accountability, helping improve last-mile connectivity, expand 4G saturation, and ensure affordable and reliable digital services for rural citizens.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu described the agreement as a milestone in Andhra Pradesh’s digital transformation journey. He said seamless broadband connectivity would empower rural communities, improve access to education and healthcare, and strengthen technology-driven governance across the state.
Under the MoC, the Andhra Pradesh government will facilitate faster implementation by supporting right-of-way approvals, infrastructure access, and inter-departmental coordination. Funding will be provided primarily by Digital Bharat Nidhi, with state contributions as per mutually agreed terms. The network created will be leveraged by the state to maximise socio-economic outcomes.
The Amended BharatNet Programme, approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2023, focuses on upgrading existing networks and expanding coverage on an on-demand basis. In Andhra Pradesh, BharatNet Phase I covered 1,692 gram panchayats, while Phase II covered 11,254 gram panchayats, all of which are service-ready.
Under the amended programme, implementation will be carried out through a newly created special purpose vehicle, Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (APBIL). The total scope includes 13,426 gram panchayats, along with demand-based connectivity for 3,942 villages, and upgrading Phase I networks from linear to ring topology to improve resilience.
The project is expected to enable over five lakh rural home fibre connections, significantly boosting digital governance, e-services, online education, telemedicine, and digital payments across rural and remote areas of Andhra Pradesh.
The agreement was signed between Digital Bharat Nidhi under the Department of Telecommunications and the Andhra Pradesh government in the presence of Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office in Tadepalle.
The partnership aims to expedite implementation of the amended BharatNet programme, which seeks to upgrade and expand India’s rural optical fibre network to deliver robust, future-ready broadband connectivity to every village.
Calling BharatNet one of the world’s most ambitious public digital infrastructure initiatives, Scindia said the amended programme represents a ₹1.39 lakh crore ($16.9 billion) national investment to take optical fibre connectivity to every village in the country. “What we are doing is the democratization of technology for every citizen, enabling talent and aspiration to compete on a global stage,” he said.
Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said the memorandum provides a structured, state-led framework that combines financial support with accountability, helping improve last-mile connectivity, expand 4G saturation, and ensure affordable and reliable digital services for rural citizens.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu described the agreement as a milestone in Andhra Pradesh’s digital transformation journey. He said seamless broadband connectivity would empower rural communities, improve access to education and healthcare, and strengthen technology-driven governance across the state.
Under the MoC, the Andhra Pradesh government will facilitate faster implementation by supporting right-of-way approvals, infrastructure access, and inter-departmental coordination. Funding will be provided primarily by Digital Bharat Nidhi, with state contributions as per mutually agreed terms. The network created will be leveraged by the state to maximise socio-economic outcomes.
The Amended BharatNet Programme, approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2023, focuses on upgrading existing networks and expanding coverage on an on-demand basis. In Andhra Pradesh, BharatNet Phase I covered 1,692 gram panchayats, while Phase II covered 11,254 gram panchayats, all of which are service-ready.
Under the amended programme, implementation will be carried out through a newly created special purpose vehicle, Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (APBIL). The total scope includes 13,426 gram panchayats, along with demand-based connectivity for 3,942 villages, and upgrading Phase I networks from linear to ring topology to improve resilience.
The project is expected to enable over five lakh rural home fibre connections, significantly boosting digital governance, e-services, online education, telemedicine, and digital payments across rural and remote areas of Andhra Pradesh.
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