Sterlite Tech Shares Jump 15% After Big ₹2,631 Crore BharatNet Deal

Sterlite Technologies Ltd (STL), a company that builds internet infrastructure, saw its shares rise by 15% on June 11 after it bagged a massive ₹2,631 crore contract from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL). This deal is part of the government’s BharatNet project, which aims to bring high-speed internet to remote areas like Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

What’s the Deal About?

BSNL has chosen Sterlite Tech to build and maintain internet infrastructure in the union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The total value of the contract is ₹2,631.14 crore. This includes not only the cost of building the network but also maintaining it for several years.

Sterlite won the contract by partnering with Dilip Buildcon, another infrastructure company. Together, they’ll lay fibre-optic cables that will provide faster and more stable internet connections in far-off areas where connectivity is poor or nonexistent.

How Will They Do It?

Instead of using old-school methods, Sterlite will use modern tools like:

• Drones to survey the terrain

• GIS mapping to plan where cables should go

• AI-powered tools to design a smart, efficient network

These technologies will help the team lay cables faster and with fewer errors. In fact, Sterlite says they can finish the job 26% quicker and reduce fibre cuts (which cause internet outages) by nearly four times compared to traditional methods.

Why Is This Important?

BharatNet is the Indian government’s dream project to connect every village with high-speed broadband. While cities already enjoy decent internet, rural and remote areas are still struggling. This project aims to fix that and bring digital services like online education, telemedicine, e-governance, and e-commerce to every corner of India.

The regions of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, being remote and mountainous, often get left behind when it comes to digital access. So, this deal is a big step towards improving the quality of life in those areas.

What’s Sterlite’s Track Record?

This isn’t Sterlite’s first major project. The company has already done similar work in Maharashtra and Telangana. It also played a key role in setting up a special 10,000-kilometre secure network for the Indian armed forces under the “Network for Spectrum” project.

In total, the company has laid over 1.5 lakh kilometers of fibre-optic cables across India. That makes them one of the top players in the field.

How Did the Stock Market React?

Investors were clearly happy with the news. Sterlite’s shares shot up by more than 15% on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), reaching a high of ₹88.68 in the morning trade. This sharp rise shows that the market has confidence in Sterlite’s ability to handle large government projects and sees strong future growth for the company.

What Happens Next?

Now that the contract is awarded, Sterlite and its partner will begin rolling out the infrastructure. If they succeed in completing the project on time and with high quality, it could open the door for even bigger opportunities in the future.

It’s also great news for the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, who will soon have access to reliable, high-speed internet—something many of us take for granted.