Naidu orders the revival of FiberNet project 

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed the officials to revive the AP FiberNet project, which according to him was rendered defunct by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). Addressing a review meeting on AP FiberNet at the Secretariat on Monday, Mr. Naidu pointed out that while there were 8.70 lakh connections in 2019, the number fell to 4.50 lakh during the YSRCP regime. 

He claimed that the TDP government had effectively managed the AP FiberNet with just 130 employees and provided over 8 lakh connections. The YSRCP government created unauthorised posts in the State FiberNet Limited to accommodate its party workers, which resulted in the workforce increasing steeply to 1,350 and misuse of public funds.

Mr. Naidu ordered that a thorough investigation should be done into those appointments and steps taken to rectify the past mistakes. He told the officials to increase the present 4,53,525 connections to at least 8 to 10 lakh.

Integration with BharatNet

The Chief Minister approved the integration of AP FiberNet with BharatNet (the amended BharatNet programme), under which the Central government would provide ₹1,900 crore to AP FiberNet from 2025 to 2035. He gave the nod for transition of fiber networks in 1,692 gram panchayats (GPs) across Chittoor and Visakhapatnam districts from linear to ring architecture, and connecting an additional 480 new GPs using the ring model. 

Mr. Naidu also proposed the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle jointly managed by the Central and State governments to oversee the FiberNet projects. Further, the Chief Minister emphasised the need to reintroduce services like virtual classrooms and strengthen the fiber network in rural and underserved areas and resolving pending issues with the local cable operators.