London - 7 March, 2025 - A comprehensive new report on India's flagship rural connectivity programme reveals that despite impressive infrastructure deployment, low usage rates remain a significant barrier to digital inclusion across the country's vast rural regions.
The report, authored by telecommunications experts Dr Shruthi Koratagere Anantha Kumar and Prof H Sama Nwana of Cenerva, examines the BharatNet programme—one of the world's largest rural connectivity initiatives—and identifies critical gaps between infrastructure development and actual adoption by rural communities.
According to the report's findings, while the programme has successfully deployed 683,175 km of optical fibre cable and connected 210,552 Gram Panchayats (village councils), only 6,039 Wi-Fi hotspots are active out of 104,574 installed. This stark disparity highlights what the report terms the "usage gap" problem facing digital inclusion efforts globally.
"The fundamental challenge for rural connectivity programmes isn't just laying cables or installing equipment - it's ensuring people actually use these services," said Prof Nwana. "Our research shows that even when infrastructure reaches rural communities, barriers such as affordability, digital literacy, and perceived value prevent widespread adoption."
The report identifies several key factors contributing to low utilisation rates:
- Affordability challenges for both devices and service plans
- Limited digital literacy in rural populations
- Unreliable power supply affecting service quality
- Low awareness of potential benefits from internet access
- Insufficient local engagement and support
These findings have significant implications for digital inclusion initiatives worldwide, suggesting that connectivity programmes must address both supply-side infrastructure and demand-side adoption challenges to succeed.
The research also proposes that future phases of rural connectivity programmes should incorporate more sophisticated techno-economic modelling approaches that consider the unique characteristics of each community, rather than applying one-size-fits-all implementation strategies.
The complete report, "BharatNet: Achieving Rural Connectivity Excellence Through SMARTer Implementation," provides a detailed assessment of India's progress in bridging the digital divide and offers recommendations for policymakers and programme implementers working on similar initiatives globally. It is available as a PDF download from the Cenerva website (https://cenerva.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/BharatNet-report.pdf)
About Cenerva
Cenerva works with governments, regulators and operators across emerging economies to maximise the opportunities the digital economy provides. With expertise spanning Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, Cenerva's consultants have advised organisations including the World Bank, IFC, and numerous telecommunications regulators on digital inclusion strategies.
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