BSNL taps locals for BharatNet to speed last-mile broadband rollout in villages

BSNL is looking for partners to provide last-mile connectivity to consumers of BharatNet, the government’s ambitious project to provide broadband connectivity to all gram panchayats in the country.

“Any local individual, self-help group, firm or internet service provider can become a BharatNet Udyami. He or she will be responsible for the installation, provisioning and maintenance of last-mile optical fibre (FTTH) connections, sharing the monthly revenue from subscribers in a 50:50 ratio with BSNL. Their income will depend on the number of connections they service,” said Ghazala Faisal, chief general manager (CGM) of Kolkata Telephones and West Bengal Telecom Circle.