BharatNet connects 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats; 4.09 lakh hotspots expand rural digital connectivity
New Delhi: India’s massive push to expand optical fibre, 5G and digital public infrastructure has connected more than 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats through BharatNet, the government said on Sunday.
Optical fibre deployment nationwide rose from 19.35 lakh route kilometres in 2019 to 42.36 lakh route kilometres in 2025, and 5G connectivity now covers 99.9 per cent of districts with over 5.18 lakh base transceiver stations as of December 2025, an official statement said.
