New Delhi, Delhi, 23rd of February, 2026 : In a significant step towards strengthening digital infrastructure in rural Andhra Pradesh, a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was signed between Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), the Department of Telecommunications, the Ministry of Communications, the Government of India, and the Government of Andhra Pradesh for the expedited implementation of the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) in the State.
The Memorandum was signed on 22.02.2026 at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office, Tadepalle, Guntur District, in the august presence of Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh; Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region; and Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development.
The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by Mr. Shyamal Misra, IAS, Administrator, Digital Bharat Nidhi, and Mr. Movva Tirumala Krishna Babu, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, Infrastructure and Investment Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Emphasizing the importance and scale of the BharatNet program, Minister Shri Scindia said on the occasion, “Amended BharatNet is a $16.9 billion, i.e., ₹ 139,000 crore, publicly funded program of the Government of India, which will take OFC fiber and broadband to every single village of this country. No other country in the world has the courage to do what Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has done.
Minister Shri Scindia further added, “What we are doing, in essence, is the democratization of technology to every single citizen in our country. What technology has done in our generation is to really provide the capability for individual prowess, talent, ambition, and aspiration to reach the world stage.”
Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar observed that the memorandum provides a structured and sustainable framework for swift implementation under the state-led model, combining financial support with accountability. He noted that the partnership will strengthen last-mile connectivity, expand 4G saturation, and ensure that rural citizens benefit from affordable and dependable digital services.
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, stated that the signing of the memorandum represents a milestone in the state’s digital transformation, reinforcing its commitment to technology-driven governance and inclusive growth. He underlined that seamless broadband connectivity will empower rural communities, enhance delivery of education and healthcare, and position Andhra Pradesh at the forefront of next-generation digital infrastructure.
The memorandum establishes a broad framework for collaboration between DBN and the Government of Andhra Pradesh to facilitate faster rollout of the Amended BharatNet Programme. Under the Memorandum, the State Government shall extend full support for expedited implementation, including facilitation of Right of Way (RoW), infrastructure access, and necessary coordination support. Funding for the project is intended to be provided majorly by DBN along with contributions from the State Government as per mutually agreed arrangements. The network created under the program shall be effectively utilized by the state government to maximize socio-economic impact.
The Union Cabinet had approved the Amended BharatNet Programme on 4 August 2023 with the objective of upgrading, consolidating, and expanding the existing BharatNet network to ensure robust and future-ready broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats and villages on an on-demand basis.
BharatNet Phase I in Andhra Pradesh was implemented by M/s PGCIL under the CPSU model, covering 1,692 Gram Panchayats, all of which have been made service-ready. BharatNet Phase II was implemented under the state-led model by Andhra Pradesh State FiberNet Limited (APSFL), covering 11,254 Gram Panchayats, all of which are service-ready.
Under the Amended BharatNet Programme in Andhra Pradesh, the project will be implemented through a newly created Special Purpose Vehicle, Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (APBIL). The program will have a total scope of 13,426 Gram Panchayats, which includes the upgradation of 1,692 Phase I Gram Panchayats from linear to ring topology to enhance network resilience, coverage of 11,254 Phase II Gram Panchayats, and inclusion of 480 newly created Gram Panchayats. In addition, 3,942 villages will be provided connectivity on a demand basis to strengthen last-mile connectivity.
The Government of India has approved financial support of ₹2,432 crore for implementation of the program in Andhra Pradesh. The initiative is expected to facilitate over five lakh rural home fiber connections with financial support from the Government of India, significantly enhance digital governance, improve delivery of citizen-centric services, and promote online education, digital payments, e-governance, and telemedicine across rural and remote areas of the state.
The signing of the Memorandum reflects the shared commitment of the Union Government and the Government of Andhra Pradesh to accelerate digital inclusion, deepen last-mile connectivity, and build resilient telecommunications infrastructure, thereby advancing the vision of a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy
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