In a significant step towards strengthening digital infrastructure in rural Andhra Pradesh, a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) was signed between Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), the Department of Telecommunications and the government of Andhra Pradesh for the expedited implementation of the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) in the state.
Commenting on the BharatNet program, the union minister for communications and development of the north eastern region said, “ABP is a $16.9 billion, that is, Rs 1,390 billion, publicly funded program of the government of India, which will take optical fibre cable and broadband to every single village of this country. No other country in the world has the courage to do what the government has done.”
The minister further added, “What we are doing, in essence, is the democratisation of technology to every single citizen in our country. What technology has done in our generation is to really provide the capability for individual prowess, talent, ambition, and aspiration to reach the world stage.”
Meanwhile, the minister of state for communications and rural development observed that the MoC provides a structured and sustainable framework for swift implementation under the state-led model, combining financial support with accountability. He noted that the partnership will strengthen last-mile connectivity, expand 4G saturation, and ensure that rural citizens benefit from affordable and dependable digital services.
Further, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh stated that the signing of the memorandum represents a milestone in the state’s digital transformation, reinforcing its commitment to technology-driven governance and inclusive growth. He underlined that seamless broadband connectivity will empower rural communities, enhance delivery of education and healthcare, and position Andhra Pradesh at the forefront of next-generation digital infrastructure.
The memorandum establishes a broad framework for collaboration between DBN and the government of Andhra Pradesh to facilitate faster rollout of the ABP. Under the MoC, the state government shall extend full support for expedited implementation, including facilitation of right of way, infrastructure access, and necessary coordination support. Funding for the project is intended to be provided majorly by DBN along with contributions from the state government as per mutually agreed arrangements. The network created under the program shall be effectively utilised by the state government to maximise socio-economic impact.
Under the ABP in Andhra Pradesh, the project will be implemented through a newly created Special purpose vehicle, Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infrastructure Limited. The program will have a total scope of 13,426 gram panchayats, which includes the upgradation of 1,692 Phase I gram panchayats from linear to ring topology to enhance network resilience, coverage of 11,254 Phase II gram panchayats, and inclusion of 480 newly created gram panchayats. In addition, 3,942 villages will be provided connectivity on a demand basis to strengthen last-mile connectivity.
The government of India has approved financial support of Rs 24.32 billion for implementation of the program in Andhra Pradesh. The initiative is expected to facilitate over 0.5 million rural home fibre connections with financial support from the government of India, significantly enhance digital governance, improve delivery of citizen-centric services, and promote online education, digital payments, e-governance, and telemedicine across rural and remote areas of the state.
