As per the secretary of Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the Indian government has reportedly kicked off BharatNet Phase III, a massive Rs 1.39 trilion initiative aimed at connecting 0.6 million villages with high-speed optical fibre-based broadband within the next three years. The rollout includes linking every gram panchayat and rural settlement with optical fibre cable (OFC) networks, as well as upgrading mobile towers to ensure faster connectivity across the board.
This push is expected to play a critical role in helping Global Capability Centres (GCCs), currently clustered in major metros, to expand into tier-II and tier-III cities by leveraging better digital infrastructure. The move aligns with the country’s broader goals of enabling advanced technologies, including high-speed 6G services.
India’s median broadband speed currently stands at around 138 Mbps, and its data cost, about 9 cents per GB, is among the lowest globally, compared to a global average of $2.6 per GB. These cost advantages, coupled with the new infrastructure, are key enablers for digital expansion.
The government has also eased spectrum regulations to promote wider Wi-Fi adoption and is streamlining permissions for undersea cable landing stations through a single-window portal, aiming to further enhance connectivity and digital readiness across the country.
