Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has announced that seven 
states are all set to project their own model to launch broadband network proposed under Rs. 720 billion BharatNet program. Representatives from states like Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal attended the meeting and discussed the new proposal to roll out the broadband network. However, no representative from Delhi and some north eastern states were involved in the meeting.
While some states aimed to develop their own model for broadband network, others expressed dissatisfaction over the work of central public sector firms involved in National Optical Fibre Network. Meanwhile, Haryana declared its prospect of state-led model for the project.
With an aim to boost broadband network reach in the country, government is likely to launch broadband network as per three models – current model operated by CPSUs, SPV or state run and private sector led model.
Operated by SPV Bharat Broadband Network Limited, the NOFN project is being implemented by CPSUs BSNL, RailTel and Powergrid.
Andhra Pradesh advisor for e-governance and IT, J Satyanarayana reveals the state government’s plan to launch broadband in 30 to 36 month period and offer connection with download speed of 10 megabit per second for Rs 150 per month.
Telecom Joint Secretary V. Umashankar asserted that broadband availability will increase from 96 per provisioned under NOFN to almost 99.9 per cent. Umashankar further confirmed that GDP will grow to Rs. 665 billion if 100 users are created at each panchayat level.
