Rural Internet Penetration Rises to 48.31 per 100 People under National Broadband Mission 2.0

Rural internet penetration in India increased to 48.31 subscribers per 100 population in 2025–26, up from 45.03 in the previous year, reflecting the continued expansion of digital connectivity across villages and remote regions.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said the national average fixed broadband download speed reached 60.85 Mbps as of March 31, 2026. Broadband connections provided to anchor institutions—including schools, Primary Health Centres, Anganwadis and Panchayat offices—rose to 21,82,312.

National Broadband Mission 2.0, launched on January 17, 2025 and implemented from April 1, 2025, aims to accelerate digital infrastructure development, reduce the rural-urban digital divide and improve access to high-speed broadband.

Under the amended BharatNet programme, optical-fibre connectivity is planned for around 2.65 lakh Gram Panchayats and nearly 3.8 lakh non-Gram Panchayat villages on a demand basis. The programme also provides incentives for 1.5 crore rural fibre connections.

As of June 2026, 43,908 km of optical-fibre cable had been laid and 13,494 Gram Panchayats had been upgraded under the amended programme.

The government is also expanding mobile towers through the 4G Saturation Project and other Digital Bharat Nidhi-supported schemes to improve connectivity in rural, forested, remote and previously uncovered areas.

Infrastructure approvals have become faster, with the average disposal time for Right of Way applications declining from 80.63 days in 2024–25 to 35.62 days in 2025–26. All 36 states and Union Territories are now connected to the centralised Right of Way portal.

The share of mobile towers using sustainable energy also increased from 8% to 11.44%, indicating growing adoption of cleaner power solutions within India’s telecom network.

The progress under National Broadband Mission 2.0 highlights India’s continuing effort to strengthen rural digital access, expand public-service connectivity and create a more inclusive national communications infrastructure.

SOURCES

1. Parliament of India, Lok Sabha Questions and Answers
   Ministry of Communications, written reply on the implementation and progress of National Broadband Mission 2.0, answered on July 29, 2026.
   https://sansad.in/ls/questions/questions-and-answers
2. Press Information Bureau, Government of India
   “National Broadband Mission 2.0,” Ministry of Communications, February 13, 2025.
   https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2102796&lang=1&reg=3
3. Department of Telecommunications, Government of India
   National Broadband Mission 2.0 Booklet and official publications.
   https://www.dot.gov.in/documents/publications
4. Press Information Bureau, Government of India
   “Highlights of Telecom Subscription Data at the End of March 2026,” Ministry of Communications, April 22, 2026.
   https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2254646&lang=1&reg=3