Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday conducted a comprehensive review of the AP FiberNet project, stating that the once-flagship initiative launched between 2014 and 2019 had been severely mismanaged under the previous YSRCP government. He directed officials to take immediate steps to restore the project’s original vision and expand its outreach.
Speaking at the meeting held at the State Secretariat, the Chief Minister said AP FiberNet was launched to benefit citizens, students, and government departments. However, he alleged that the previous government misused it for political purposes, causing a significant drop in connections—from 8.7 lakh in 2019 to 4.5 lakh.
Naidu said the project, which was previously run efficiently with 130 employees, was bloated under the YSRCP regime to over 1,350 staff by creating posts for party workers. He termed it a “new form of corruption” and called for an inquiry into these appointments. “We must identify those responsible and take corrective measures,” he said, directing officials to scale up connections to 8–10 lakh.
Rs 1,900 Crore Support from Centre Under BharatNet
The Chief Minister also approved the integration of AP FiberNet with the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP). Under this scheme, the Centre is expected to sanction ₹1,900 crore from 2025 to 2035. Naidu cleared plans to convert 1,692 gram panchayats in Chittoor and Visakhapatnam districts from linear to ring architecture. An additional ₹430 crore will be allocated to connect 480 new gram panchayats.
To oversee implementation, Naidu proposed setting up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in collaboration with the central and state governments.
Service Quality, Affordability Under Review
The Chief Minister also reviewed the factors behind the reduction in subscribers during 2019–2024. Officials noted that service charges were increased from ₹149 to ₹350 during this period, while content quality deteriorated. Naidu directed officials to expedite the selection of set-top box suppliers, revise the revenue-sharing model with local cable operators, and involve private partners to ensure efficient last-mile delivery.
Leading in Rural Connectivity, Fiber Coverage
Andhra Pradesh currently provides FiberNet connectivity to 12,946 gram panchayats, the highest in the country. The service also covers 104 government departments and over 21,000 high-speed broadband connections, linked through 175 telecom towers. A total of 442 staff are currently employed under the project.
The state has laid 78,355 km of fiber-optic cable so far, with a target of 2 lakh km. Andhra Pradesh leads nationally in fiber network coverage, followed by Maharashtra (50,481 km), Tamil Nadu (49,616 km), Gujarat (35,246 km), and Telangana (29,143 km). The government is now working to accelerate the network’s expansion and technological upgrades.