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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has sought approval from the Telecom Commission on its proposal to overlay the government user network over the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) to ensure broadband connectivity at gram panchyat level.
It has proposed to establish a framework for the delivery of high speed broadband or closed user group connectivity from district headquarters and two other locations in the gram panchayats for government services that can be delivered to the public along with a community access to broadband.
DoT has proposed that the initial capital expenditure of Rs 3,750 crore the project will be provided from the Universal service obligation fund, and the operating expenses of Rs 1,860 crore (excluding taxes) will be funded by the ministry of rural development, according to recent communication of the DoT.
Through this, the government intends to extend vertical connectivity up to district headquarters level and horizontal connectivity to three locations in each gram panchayat for providing government services in partnership with the ministry of rural development.
This would ensure community wi-fi connectivity in each gram panchyat.
Bharat Broadband Network Limited will implement the project, and the ministry of rural development will be the anchor institution. The tenure of the project is envisaged as 10 years to ensure viability. Under the NOFN project, the government wants to connect 0.25 milliongram panchayats across the country with optical fibre cable for offering broadband services.
According to the plan, the DoT hopes to complete the NOFN project, covering the first 0.1 million gram panchayats by March 31, 2014, while the overlaying is expected to be completed by September 30, 2014. The next 0.1 million gram panchyats will be covered with NOFN by March 31, 2015 and overlaying would be completed by July 31, 2015. The remaining 50,000 gram panchyats will be covered by NOFN by December 31, 2015, while completion of the overlaying project is targeted by March 31, 2016.
The total cost of the NOFN project is estimated to be Rs 20,000 crore.
