Exclusive: 58 panchayats to get broadband connectivity under NFON

58 panchayats are set to get broadband connectivity under the  plan also known as Bharat Broadband Project, said K K Milocha, DDG for USOF, Department of Telecommunication (DoT).

Milocha said that, use of NOFN (National Fiber Optics Network) would enhance around G2C and B2C applications. Speaking on the industry participation, he said that industry will resonate together for the success of this project. He also added that the project will ensure last mile connectivity in the country and help penetrating broadband. “Broadband will help eradicating illiteracy from the country and the Government’s ambitious project—Aakash 2 will help it bolster further.”

The Government has initiated the Bharat Broadband pilot project in 60 village panchayats across Ajmer, North Tripura and Vishakhapatnam. Very recently, N Ravi Shankar, CEO of Bharat Broadband Project, Government of India, said that, the Nation Optics Fiber Network (NOFN) Project aims to cover 2, 50,000 village panchayats by 2015. He also said that, the project will be executed via Pubilc-Private-Panchayat partnership. He disclosed that the public sector is investing over $4 billion into the NFON project.

The DoT official also revealed that the advisory board for NFON has been called for a meeting, which will take place on 18 December, 2012. He added that the meeting will be attended by industry players and will be headed by Telecom and IT minister Kapil Sibal.