New Delhi, Apr. 12 (ANI): The Central Government has approved a project to create National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) connecting all the 2, 50,000 Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country through Optical Cable (OFC).
The Central Government, through Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), is funding the project while the contribution of State Government would be by providing free Right of Way (RoW) for laying OFC.
The project envisages signing a tripartite MoU for free Right of Way (RoW) among Central Government, State Government and Bharat Broadband Network Limited, BBNL (the SPV incorporated for execution of the project).
16 states/union territories have already signed MoUs on 26.10.2012. Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Manipur, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and 3 Union Territories viz. Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Puducherry. This arrangement covers 1,40,727 GPs to be provided with Optical Fibre Network in these States and UTs.
Tripartite MoU were signed in the presence of Union Communications and IT Minister of Kapil Sibal with further 10 states/union territories today: Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A total of 85731 Gram Panchayats will get covered by Optical Fibre Network in these states and union territories.
The number of Gram Panchayats to be covered in these states and union territories are 79,650. Assam: 2,206 Gram Panchayats, Bihar: 8,474 Gram Panchayats, Gujarat: 13,883 Gram Panchayats, Himachal Pradesh: 3,243 Gram Panchayats, Jammu and Kashmir: 4,098 Gram Panchayats, Maharashtra: 27,906 Gram Panchayats, Nagaland: 1,110 Gram Panchayats, Odisha: 6,236 Gram Panchayats, Punjab: 12,425 Gram Panchayats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 69 Gram Panchayats.
The Bharat Broadband Network Limited will soon commence the work in above States/UTs taking OFC to Gram Panchayats and in remaining States work will be taken by BBNL as and when States are ready to sign MoU.
With the availability of NOFN at 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats a minimum bandwidth of 100 Mbps will be available at each of GP and will lead to proliferation of broadband services.
Benefits to states include the following:
Empowering rural masses by giving them access to information, public services including those of education, health and financial inclusion.
Various applications for Panchayats for planning, management, monitoring and payments under various government schemes (e.g. MNREGA, PDS, Land Records, Birth/Death Certificates, Digital Literacy, etc.), e-Governance, education, health, employment, agriculture and commerce may be launched using this network.
As access service providers like Mobile operators, Internet Service Providers, Cable TV operators, content providers etc. launch their access network and services using NOFN, it will result in creation of local employment, revenue generation and growth of GDP leading to overall prosperity of the state.
The National Optical Fibre Network project will take the technology to grass root level and open new opportunity for the benefit of masses. (ANI)
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