BharatNet's Last-Mile Struggle: Only 45% of Rural Broadband Connections Active
Less than half the number of connections targeted under BharatNet, India's ambitious rural broadband programme, were actively using the service as of March 2026, according to data obtained by The Indian Express under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The data shows a steady decline in new customer additions over the past three years, raising concerns about the project's effectiveness.
As of March 2026, a total of 13.23 lakh fixed broadband connections were commissioned under BharatNet, against a target of 18 lakh. However, only about 8.01 lakh connections were actively being used, meaning just 45 per cent of the target was active. The government had set a target of 18 lakh fixed broadband connections by March 2026.
The scheme, touted as the world’s largest rural fibre optic network, aims to bridge the digital divide by providing high-speed internet to all Gram Panchayats. It is meant to deliver high-capacity, uninterrupted fixed-line broadband essential for e-governance, digital healthcare, and education in rural areas. Despite the growth of mobile internet, BharatNet is critical for heavy data usage.
Data shows a progressive slowdown in user base expansion. In 2023, active users increased by 4.55 lakh, but additions fell to 2.86 lakh in 2024 and further to 2.08 lakh in 2025. Only about 7,000 new connections were added per month between January 2025 and March 2026, indicating weak traction.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communication and Information Technology, in a March 2025 report, noted that usage of the network remains suboptimal despite available infrastructure. It also flagged under-utilisation of funds: only Rs 3,145 crore of the revised estimate of Rs 6,500 crore for 2024-25 was spent.
Wi-Fi hotspots, a key last-mile delivery mechanism, also face challenges. Of 1.04 lakh installed hotspots, only 766 were operational as of September 2025—just 0.7 per cent. The RTI response skipped a query on current operational hotspots, and an appeal has been filed.
Government officials cited issues including active connections, operational Wi-Fi hotspots, last-mile connectivity, fund leakages, and confusing tariff structures as reasons for the scheme's faltering performance.
