Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is set to introduce a fresh plan as part of the BharatNet project, a government initiative focused on enhancing rural internet connectivity. This new Fiber To The Home (FTTH) plan is aimed at rural areas and comes as a welcome addition to BSNL’s offerings for customers in these regions.
BSNL Nodal Officer, Akash Upasani, shed light on the upcoming FTTH plan, which is yet to be officially announced. Customers in rural areas, whose existing copper networks will be replaced with fiber starting from August 1, will have access to a plan priced at Rs 249, plus an additional 18% GST. This plan encompasses unlimited calling and 10 GB of internet at a speed of 10 Mbps, initially offered for free. Meanwhile, urban areas will have access to the same plan at a slightly higher cost of Rs 299 plus GST.
This new offering comes in addition to BSNL’s existing ‘Ghar Ka Wifi’ plan designed for rural customers, currently available at a monthly cost of Rs 399. The ‘Ghar Ka Wifi’ plan includes unlimited data at a speed of up to 30 Mbps for the first 1000 GB and 4 Mbps beyond that, coupled with unlimited calls to any network.
The recent approval by the Union Cabinet on August 4 allocated Rs 1.39 lakh crore for the enhancement of the BharatNet project. This project’s objective is to extend fiber connections to remote areas through village-level entrepreneurs, ultimately spanning across all Gram Panchayats across the country.
BSNL’s transition from traditional copper wires to advanced fiber technology was initiated in 2017. Akash Upasani emphasized the significance of this move for technological advancement. Fiberization enables a minimum speed of 10 Mbps, with the potential to reach a maximum of 300 Mbps. In contrast, copper connections are limited to a maximum speed of 8 Mbps.
As the rollout progresses, BSNL’s current reach is evident, boasting 40,000 connections in Pune and an additional 600 connections in the rural areas surrounding Pune.
This endeavor by BSNL showcases the organization’s commitment to bridging the digital divide between urban and rural communities, aligning with the government’s vision for inclusive and comprehensive internet connectivity across the nation.
