New Delhi: Tejas Networks has emerged as the largest supplier of IP routing equipment under BharatNet Phase III, securing seven of the 12 project packages awarded so far.
The contracts involve the deployment of over 50,000 IP routers across nearly 57,000 gram panchayats and around 2,000 blocks in nine states and five union territories. The coverage includes Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and several northeastern states, where the government is prioritising upgrades to rural broadband infrastructure.
BharatNet Phase III was approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2023 with a total outlay of Rs 1.39 lakh crore. The phase focuses on modernising the country’s rural middle-mile network by shifting to an IP-MPLS-based architecture, which is designed to support higher bandwidth requirements and more reliable connectivity. The programme aims to extend high-speed broadband access to approximately 1.64 lakh gram panchayats across India.
Tejas Networks said the routing systems to be deployed are designed and developed in India and are already being used in large-scale networks. The company will execute the rollout in collaboration with five project implementation agencies, NCC, Polycab, Invenia–STL Networks, GR Infraprojects and ITI.
The latest awards underline the increasing role of domestic telecom equipment suppliers in government-led digital infrastructure projects, as BharatNet Phase III moves into the execution phase and expands the backbone for rural internet connectivity.
