)
The project, in pilot stage now, would be rolled out in the next few months, said a senior government official.
Speaking at the Digital India Summit 2014 organised by ICT Academy of Tamil Nadu and Intel, TK Ramachandran, state IT secretary, said Railtel had come forward with their offering by leveraging the distribution network of Arasu.
Arasu provides cable TV services to almost 7 million individuals in the state. “The state government is just opening up the network for the service provider to reach out to more people,” he said.
He added full plan had not yet been evolved and the details, including the tariff, were yet to be fixed. The pilot project was conducted in Vellore, where broadband services have been provided to around 1,000 subscribers.
On when the internet services would be launched, he said, “We have already announced the programme. It will start in next one or two months.”
He added that the government is also offering a centre of excellence for those who have good ideas to come and work in the platform provided by the government.
Earlier, in August 12, this year, State Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa made an announcement in the Assembly that Arasu Cable was providing high-quality cable TV services to the people of the state at an affordable Rs 70 a month.
"Through cable operators, it (Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable Corporation) will provide broadband service at low prices. It would be offered by joining hands with those who have broadband licences," said the chief minister, who also announced Rs 40 crore worth new building for Tamil Nadu State Data Centre covering an area of 5,000 sft.
Jayalalithaa said the state would also establish at a cost of Rs 5 crore to preserve and retrieve government data besides creating an e-mail group involving a cost of Rs one crore for government officials to ensure safer and faster communication. She said cloud and web-hosting services would be provided to students and young entrepreneurs at a fairly low cost by earmarking Rs 50 lakh, while it will also launch an internet-based encyclopedia of Tamil arts and culture.
