The department of telecom (DoT) is all set to provide the 50, 000 villages with telephones. The DoT is ready to sign an agreement with BSNL for the same.  The 50, 000 targetted villages were identified via the 2001 census and majority have a population below 100 people. The list even includes those villages that were neglected for varied reasons earlier.

The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) set up to pay for the basic fixed-line telephones is even been used for installation of wireless telephones. The department is also offering Village Public Telephones (VPT) to 66, 822 at a subsidised rate. BSNL was awarded the work of providing VPT to the villages. Here is a chart that explains the state-wise distribution of VPTs as per the number of villages.

The DoT is even planning on pushing its broadband services to as many as 30, 500 villages. The entire initiative is part of the departments so called “Bharat Nirman” programme.