Telangana to stop paying private ISPs for govt offices, shift to T-Fiber by Sept 2026

The Telangana government will cease payments to private internet service providers (ISPs) for government office connectivity from September 1, 2026. In a directive issued on Friday, IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu instructed officials to ensure that all state government offices receive internet services exclusively through T-Fiber, the state's flagship fiber-optic network.

T-Fiber, formally known as the Telangana Fiber Grid, is a state-run initiative aimed at providing high-speed broadband to every household and institution in the state. The Minister's directive is part of a broader push to accelerate the 'Internet to every home' programme, which has faced delays in meeting its original rollout targets.

Officials have been tasked with completing the migration from the existing Telangana State Wide Area Network (T-SWAN) to T-Fiber within one month. This migration will involve transferring all government office internet connections to the state-owned infrastructure, ensuring a uniform and cost-effective service.

The Minister also directed T-Fiber officials to extend connectivity to the proposed Future City project on the outskirts of Hyderabad. This new township, planned as a smart city, will require robust digital infrastructure from its inception.

From the stipulated date, no payments shall be made to private ISPs for services rendered to government offices, according to the Minister. The directive is expected to significantly reduce the state's expenditure on internet services, as T-Fiber operates on a non-commercial model.

However, the move has raised questions about the readiness of T-Fiber to handle the entire load of government connectivity. While the network has expanded its coverage across the state, its reliability and speed in rural areas remain untested. The government has assured that steps are being taken to meet the September 2026 deadline.

T-Fiber was launched in 2016 with the goal of providing 15 Mbps internet connections to every household. While it has made progress in urban areas, several rural pockets are still awaiting connections. The latest directive is expected to prioritise government offices, which could spur further expansion.

The decision comes amid the state's push for digital governance, with many citizen-facing services moving online. Ensuring reliable internet connectivity for government offices is seen as a critical step towards this goal.

The Minister's instructions were issued during a review meeting with officials from the IT department and T-Fiber Corporation. He also emphasised the need to expedite the rollout of the 'Internet to every home' initiative, which remains a key electoral promise of the incumbent government.

While the move has been welcomed as a step towards self-reliance in digital infrastructure, some experts have cautioned against a hasty withdrawal of private ISPs. They argue that a transition period may be necessary to avoid service disruptions, especially in remote areas where T-Fiber is not yet fully operational.

The state government, however, maintains that the deadline is realistic and that necessary measures are in place to ensure seamless connectivity. Officials have been directed to submit weekly progress reports on the migration.

This development is part of a larger trend across Indian states to leverage public infrastructure for government operations, reducing dependency on private telecom operators. The Telangana model could serve as a template for other states aiming to achieve digital self-sufficiency.

As the September 2026 deadline approaches, all eyes will be on T-Fiber's ability to deliver. The success of this transition will not only impact government operations but also set the tone for the state's broader digital ambitions.