The National Broadband Mission (NBM) is a major initiative by the Government of India aimed at providing affordable, high-speed broadband connectivity across the country. This scheme was initially launched in December 2019 under the National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018. NBM seeks to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas, ensuring equitable access to digital services for all citizens.
The mission focuses on building robust digital infrastructure, enhancing broadband speeds, and ensuring connectivity for underserved areas, particularly rural and remote regions. With NBM 1.0 (2019–2024) successfully laying the groundwork, the government has now launched NBM 2.0 to accelerate the expansion of broadband connectivity and prepare India for emerging technologies such as 5G and 6G.
In this blog, we have provided the details of NBM 2.0, including its objectives, initiatives, technologies, and impact on India’s digital transformation.
Why was National Broadband Mission 2.0 (NBM 2.0) Launched?
Despite the success of NBM 1.0, many villages and remote regions in India still lacked high-speed broadband access. NBM 2.0, launched in January 2025, aims to:
- Connect the remaining 1.7 lakh villages in India.
- Provide minimum fixed broadband speeds of 100 Mbps nationwide.
- Promote affordable broadband services to reduce socio-economic inequalities.
- Lay the foundation for the deployment of 5G networks and the future 6G technologies.
- Utilize satellite-based broadband and existing power sector infrastructure for challenging areas.
What is the Timeline and Target of NBM 2.0?
The details about the timeline and the target of the NBM 2.0 are as follows:
- Launch Date: January 2025
- Target Year: 2030
- Key Milestones:
- Connect all remaining villages with high-speed broadband.
- Extend OFC connectivity to 2.7 lakh villages.
- Ensure 90% of anchor institutions have broadband access.
- Achieve 30% renewable energy-powered mobile towers.
What are the Key Objectives of National Broadband Mission 2.0?
NBM 2.0 focuses on several strategic objectives to ensure universal connectivity and technological advancement. These include:
- Connecting Rural Areas: Aims to bring high-speed broadband to all remaining villages and connect anchor institutions like schools, primary health centers, Anganwadi centers, and government offices.
- Enhancing Broadband Speeds: Ensures minimum 100 Mbps download speeds to support online education, telemedicine, e-governance, and digital services across India.
- Extending Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) Connectivity: Plans to expand OFC networks to 2.7 lakh villages by 2030, strengthening the backbone of India’s digital infrastructure.
- Ensuring Affordability: Promotes affordable and inclusive broadband services to bridge the urban-rural and socio-economic digital divide.
- Facilitating Future Technologies: Supports the rollout of 5G networks and lays the groundwork for 6G technology, keeping India at the forefront of digital innovation and smart connectivity.
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What are the Key Features of NBM 2.0?
NBM 1.0 focused on building strong digital infrastructure by laying fiber-optic networks and increasing telecom towers. It raised towers to 8.17 lakh and broadband subscribers to 941 million. NBM 2.0 builds on this foundation to expand high-speed internet, connect more villages, and support 5G and future 6G technologies.
| Key Feature | What It Means |
| Robust Digital Infrastructure | Expands optical fiber networks (30 lakh km) and increases tower density to strengthen India’s digital backbone. |
| Sustainable Energy for Mobile Towers | 30% of mobile towers will use renewable energy by 2030, reducing environmental impact. |
| Disaster Resilience | Uses Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) to keep internet working during natural disasters or emergencies. |
| Supporting Anchor Institutions | Provides broadband to schools, healthcare centers, Anganwadi centers, and government offices to improve services in rural areas. |
| Sanchar Saathi Mobile App | Helps users report fraud (Chakshu), check mobile connections, block lost devices, and verify IMEI authenticity for secure mobile usage. |
What are the Key Initiatives under NBM 2.0?
The key initiative of NBM 2.0 are as follows
| Project | Details |
| BharatNet Project | Connects Gram Panchayats and villages with high-speed broadband, forming the backbone of India’s digital infrastructure for schools, health centers, and government offices. |
| Satellite Broadband | Provides internet via satellites in remote or challenging areas where fiber deployment is difficult, ensuring seamless connectivity. |
| Power Sector Collaboration | Uses Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) from the power sector to expand broadband in hilly, remote, and disaster-prone regions. |
| PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan | Maps telecom assets to help in efficient planning, monitoring, and execution of digital infrastructure projects. |
| Green Initiatives | Integrates renewable energy sources into telecom infrastructure, especially mobile towers, to promote environmentally sustainable development. |
How will NBM 2.0 Impact India’s Digital Landscape?
NBM 2.0 will transform India’s digital ecosystem by:
- Expanding broadband access to rural and remote areas, bridging the urban-rural digital divide.
- Enabling high-speed internet for education, healthcare, and governance, fostering a knowledge-driven economy.
- Supporting the rollout of 5G networks and preparing for 6G technology, ensuring India’s competitiveness in global digital infrastructure.
- Promoting affordable broadband services to make digital access inclusive for all citizens.
- Facilitating disaster-resilient digital infrastructure using OPGW and satellite connectivity.
How does NBM 2.0 Support Digital India?
NBM 2.0 directly supports the Digital India vision by:
- Promoting universal connectivity.
- Supporting e-governance and digital public services.
- Strengthening digital infrastructure in both rural and urban areas.
- Preparing India for emerging technologies like 5G and 6G.
- Encouraging public-private partnerships to accelerate digital growth.
Download NBM 2.0 Official Notice PDF
The direct link to download the official NBM 2.0 PDF is provided below.
Key Takeaways of National Broadband Mission 2.0
| Feature | Key Highlights |
| Launch Date | January 2025 |
| Target Year | 2030 |
| Villages Targeted | 1.7 lakh remaining villages |
| Minimum Broadband Speed | 100 Mbps |
| OFC Connectivity | 2.7 lakh villages by 2030 |
| Anchor Institutions | 90% to be connected by 2030 |
| Sustainable Energy for Towers | 30% by 2030 |
| Disaster Resilience | OPGW and satellite broadband for emergencies |
| Supporting Technologies | 5G rollout, groundwork for 6G deployment |
| Mobile App | Sanchar Saathi for fraud reporting, device verification, and mobile security |
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Questions Based on National Broadband Mission 2.0
- When was NBM 2.0 launched?
- A) December 2019
- B) January 2025
- C) April 2024
- D) March 2023
- E) July 2022
- What is the minimum broadband speed target of NBM 2.0?
- A) 50 Mbps
- B) 75 Mbps
- C) 100 Mbps
- D) 150 Mbps
- E) 200 Mbps
- How many villages does NBM 2.0 aim to connect?
- A) 1 lakh
- B) 1.7 lakh
- C) 2 lakh
- D) 2.5 lakh
- E) 3 lakh
- What percentage of mobile towers is targeted to be powered by sustainable energy by 2030?
- A) 10%
- B) 20%
- C) 30%
- D) 40%
- E) 50%
- Which app is launched under NBM 2.0 for mobile security and fraud prevention?
- A) MyGov
- B) Sanchar Saathi
- C) BharatNet App
- D) DigiLocker
- E) UMANG
- Which government plan supports mapping telecom assets for NBM 2.0?
- A) Make in India
- B) PM Gati Shakti NMP
- C) Skill India
- D) Smart Cities Mission
- E) Startup India
- Which technology is used for connectivity in remote regions where fiber deployment is difficult?
- A) 4G towers
- B) Satellite broadband
- C) Copper wire
- D) Wi-Fi hotspots
- E) DSL
- What was the primary objective of NBM 1.0?
- A) Launch 5G services
- B) Enhance digital connectivity across India
- C) Deploy 6G technology
- D) Reduce electricity consumption
- E) Launch Sanchar Saathi app
- How many anchor institutions are targeted to be connected by 2030 under NBM 2.0?
- A) 70%
- B) 80%
- C) 90%
- D) 95%
- E) 100%
- Which power sector infrastructure is utilized for disaster-resilient broadband under NBM 2.0?
- A) Solar panels
- B) Optical Ground Wire (OPGW)
- C) Transformers
- D) Wind turbines
- E) Power grids
Answer Key
| Question No. | Correct Answer | Explanation |
| 1 | B) January 2025 | NBM 2.0 was launched in January 2025 as the second phase of the mission. |
| 2 | C) 100 Mbps | The mission targets a minimum fixed broadband speed of 100 Mbps nationwide. |
| 3 | B) 1.7 lakh | NBM 2.0 aims to connect the remaining 1.7 lakh villages in India. |
| 4 | C) 30% | By 2030, 30% of mobile towers are planned to run on renewable energy. |
| 5 | B) Sanchar Saathi | The app is launched for mobile security, fraud prevention, and device verification. |
| 6 | B) PM Gati Shakti NMP | This plan maps telecom assets to aid planning and implementation of digital projects. |
| 7 | B) Satellite broadband | Satellite broadband ensures connectivity in remote areas where fiber deployment is difficult. |
| 8 | B) Enhance digital connectivity across India | NBM 1.0 focused on building broadband infrastructure and increasing connectivity. |
| 9 | C) 90% | NBM 2.0 aims to connect 90% of anchor institutions like schools and healthcare centers. |
| 10 | B) Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) | OPGW from the power sector is used for disaster-resilient broadband in challenging regions. |
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