New Delhi: The Centre has approved financial support for more than five lakh rural fibre broadband connections in Tamil Nadu under the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP), following an agreement signed between Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), the Tamil Nadu government and Tamil Nadu FibreNet Corporation (TANFINET).
The agreement, signed at Sanchar Bhawan in New Delhi, will also provide on-demand connectivity to 4,767 villages across the state.
The initiative aims to strengthen rural telecom infrastructure and improve access to digital services, including e-governance, online education, telemedicine and digital payments.
The signing ceremony was attended by DBN administrator Shyamal Misra and senior officials from the Tamil Nadu government, BSNL, TANFINET and the Department of Telecommunications.
The Union Cabinet approved the Amended BharatNet Programme on August 4, 2023, to upgrade and expand the existing network and provide reliable broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats and villages on demand.
The Centre’s subsidy support is expected to accelerate last-mile connectivity and expand digital access in rural and remote areas.
