Bridging the digital divide, BharatNet services to envelop every Gram Panchayat in North East

Itanagar, April 27: North East being an integral part of India, comprehensive strategy to implement BharatNet has been approved which aims to pump up the connectivity. Comprehensive Telecom Development Project for North East, 6994 towers would be set up to provide connectivity to 8621 villages and along the national highways at a cost of Rs 5336 Crores. 

On Thursday, Union Minister Manoj Sinha said considering the strategic importance of the northeast, the Telecom Commission has approved a comprehensive strategy to implement BharatNet in the region.

Further he said that in Itanagar after a review meeting with Chief Minister Pema Khandu and other government officials, under this strategy all the uncovered gram panchayats in the region especially in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura will be linked through broadband connectivity on satellite media by December 2018 at an estimated cost of Rs 733 Crores.

Manoj Sinha said under the Comprehensive Telecom Development Project for North East, 6994 towers would be set up to provide connectivity to 8621 villages and along the national highways at a cost of Rs 5336 Crores.

The meeting was held to review the implementation of BharatNet and other major telecom projects in the North Eastern states to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of Digital India by bridging the digital divide.

The minister also launched mobile connectivity of unconnected villages of North East besides launching of satellite connectivity of gram panchayats under BharatNet, unveiling of vision document of "Ashtamangal" Phase II.

BharatNet is the world’s largest rural broadband project, envisions the mission of the country to connect India to realise the goal of Prime Minister’s Digital India by bridging the digital divide.