BBNL to take over operations of optical fibre infra under BharatNet project

In a move to sharpen accountability and bring stability to internet services in rural areas, BBNL is planning to take over operations and maintenance work of optical fibre-based infrastructure being laid under BharatNet project, a top official said.

“In events when my system is down, I am dependent on BSNL at present. Entire maintenance of fibre under BharatNet is done by BSNL. We are in the process of taking over maintenance of incremental fibre that we have laid. We have moved to USOF (universal service obligation fund) and asked for permission,” BBNL Chairman and MD Sarvesh Singh told PTI.

Bharat Broadband Nigam Limited (BBNL) had allocated around 70 per cent of rural broadband network roll-out work to BSNL and about 15 per cent of work to Railtel and Powergrid each.