BharatNet, with its ambitious aim to provide last-mile digital connectivity through the OFCs in more than 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) in India, has come a long way to facilitate Digital India-journey. Bihar, following the Public Sector-led model of BharatNet Phase-II, was divided into 3 Packages under the project. Polycab Telecom was awarded Bihar Package 3 (B3) to design and build the Digital Highway with Optical Fibres and maintain it for 6 years. As per the Statement-of-Work and the final survey, the total distance to lay OFCs was 3,785* kms, connecting 1,013 GPs across 65 Blocks in 6 districts of the state. We, as a Project Implementing Agency (PIA), were mandated to install OLT-equipment in BSNL-exchanges and lay OFCs from these exchanges to the aforementioned GPs, to achieve almost 95% uptime, as per the SLA. Out of the 1013 GPs, 1007 GPs had to be covered through underground OFCs, while the remaining 6 GPs had to be connected through the Radio Fibre Link.
We have executed end-to-end roll-out that includes surveys, planning, supply, installations, end-to-end integrations, testing and commissioning of optical fibre networks (underground) with GPON-equipment on the created network in Bihar under the project. We also integrated technologies to counter the difficult topography & floods in the delineated areas in the state. Linking GPs with BSNL Exchanges, we ensured each GP went live with 95% service up-time, a first-of-its-kind in the history of BharatNet. If we take into consideration the RF-based 6 GPs also, where work has been completed, we’ve laid 3,785 kms of OFCs in 65 blocks in 6 districts of East Champaran, Siwan, Saran, Gopalganj, Darbhanga and Madhubani, making 1007 GPs live with underground OFCs & 6 GPs with RF Link-technology in the specified time-span.