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India Launches Major Telecom Push to Connect 35000 Villages and Cut Costs
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News18•08-10-2026, 17:06
India Launches Major Telecom Push to Connect 35000 Villages and Cut Costs
- •The Indian government is investing ₹12,000–15,000 crore to build telecom towers and provide mobile coverage to around 35,000 unconnected villages.
- •Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia announced that approximately 26,000 additional towers are needed to achieve complete coverage, including in remote areas like Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
- •Infrastructure sharing between operators has already helped reduce capital expenditure by 25% and operating expenditure by 33%.
- •The expanded BharatNet programme acts as a digital highway, allowing private companies to utilize government fibre infrastructure to deliver commercial services to consumers.
Key Questions Answered
The Indian government is investing around ₹12,000 to 15,000 crore to build telecom towers and bring mobile coverage to approximately 35,000 villages that currently lack adequate connectivity.
According to Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, infrastructure sharing has already helped lower capital expenditure by about 25% and operating expenditure by approximately 33%.
The amended BharatNet programme builds middle-mile connectivity from districts to blocks and Gram Panchayats, establishing a digital highway that private companies can use to deliver affordable commercial services to homes and businesses.
