India's Digital Infrastructure Growth Reaches 100 Crore Broadband Subscribers

India Connects Over 2.15 Lakh Gram Panchayats Through BharatNet as Digital Infrastructure Expands​

New Delhi, March 8: India’s large scale expansion of digital infrastructure has connected more than 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats through the BharatNet programme, significantly strengthening rural connectivity through optical fiber networks, 5G rollout, and digital public infrastructure, the government said on Sunday.

The government stated that the nationwide deployment of optical fiber has increased sharply from 19.35 lakh route kilometres in 2019 to 42.36 lakh route kilometres in 2025, reflecting the rapid growth of digital connectivity across the country.

5G Network Now Covers 99.9 Percent of Districts​

According to the official statement, 5G services now reach 99.9 percent of districts in India, supported by the installation of more than 5.18 lakh base transceiver stations as of December 2025.

The expansion of high speed mobile networks is expected to improve access to digital services in both urban and rural regions while strengthening the foundation for emerging technologies and digital platforms.

PM WANI Deploys Over 4 Lakh Public Wi-Fi Hotspots​

To boost public internet access, the Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM WANI) has enabled the deployment of 4,09,111 public Wi-Fi hotspots across the country as of February 2026.

The network is supported by 207 Public Data Office (PDO) Aggregators and 113 App Providers, helping deliver affordable and high speed internet connectivity, particularly in rural and remote areas.

The government noted that integrating last mile connectivity with digital literacy initiatives and affordable internet services can strengthen rural livelihoods while ensuring timely access to social welfare programmes and markets.

Data Centre Capacity Set for Major Expansion​

India’s digital infrastructure growth is also supported by a rapid expansion of cloud and data centre capacity.

The country currently has a data centre capacity of about 1,280 megawatts, which the government projects could increase four to five times by 2030 to support digital governance systems and AI ready infrastructure.

Through MeghRaj, also known as the GI Cloud, more than 2,170 ministries and government departments are currently hosting their applications on secure and scalable government cloud platforms.

Data Costs Drop Sharply as Internet Access Expands​

The government highlighted a steep fall in mobile data costs over the past decade. Data prices have declined from ₹269 per GB in 2014 to around ₹8 to ₹10 per GB in 2025 to 2026, making India one of the most affordable internet markets globally.

At the same time, broadband subscriptions crossed the 100 crore milestone in November 2025, representing a sixfold increase from 13.15 crore connections recorded a decade ago.

National Supercomputing Mission Deploys 38 Systems​

Under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), the government has deployed 38 supercomputers with a combined capacity of 44 petaflops across research institutions and academic centres nationwide.

The expanded high performance computing infrastructure allows universities, startups, researchers, and industries to access advanced computing resources for applications such as artificial intelligence, climate modelling, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing.

Digital Public Infrastructure Strengthening the Economy​

The government said that digital public infrastructure platforms such as Aadhaar, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and DigiLocker are transforming internet access into real economic and social outcomes.

These systems help deliver public services seamlessly, strengthen financial inclusion, and enable trusted digital transactions, while gradually bridging access gaps and integrating more citizens into India’s digital economy.