The Centre is committed to bring about an inclusive digital ecosystem and a plan of roughly ₹1.40 lakh crores has been prepared and is rolled out as BharatNet one and two. Now, the amended BharatNet programme will connect all gram panchayats with one Gigabit per second optical fiber connectivity. This will form the basis for a decentralised growth and enable every village be an economic engine of its own by connecting it to the rest of the world through direct telecom communications. This will be possible, and Tamil Nadu stands a very good chance to make this project succeed, said Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal.

Tamil Nadu Is far ahead in industrial progress, in IT, in jobs, in training and in skill for the rest of the country. And these traits are critical for a competitive economy. Telecom infrastructure is critical to support this growth. And that has, under the leadership of the Prime Minister has seen massive rapid growth in the last 10 years, he said at Uimagine 2025 event in Chennai on Friday.

The Centre has rolled out 5G labs in 7 to 8 institutions in Tamil Nadu. Mittal requested the State government to utilise this infrastructure to run use cases which can only be done using 5G technology. “As we do that, we will also be able to lead into the 6G in the next five to seven years,” he said.

“IIT Madras is already receiving a lot of funds and including some institutions here on 6G research also. We have established a 6 GHz test bed. At IIT Madras, an advanced optical test bed along with CDOT and IIT Madras to ensure that our country, which possibly was behind in 4G moved along with the world in 5G will lead ahead in 6G,” he said.

Mittal urged the State government to utilise the funding available under the amended BharatNet programme to make digital connectivity dream come true in partnership with Government of India; use the 5G labs infrastructure as you move along the hackathons for the next Uimagine.

He also urged expediting the roll out of the infrastructure through the new Telecommunications Act, which the Centre has notified to improve the ease of doing business and propel economic growth in the state, he said.