Question : OFC NETWORK IN GRAM PANCHAYATS

(a) whether the the Government proposes to set up Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) Network in all the Gram Panchayats of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to involve Public Private Partnership (PPP) in this regard;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) the time by which it is likely to be implemented;

(f) whether the Government has also any proposal to link Lakshadweep Islands and the main land through Optical Fibre Cable to provide broadband services; and

(g) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI GURUDAS KAMAT)

(a) to (e) An Inter-Ministerial Committee was set up to prepare concept paper on “Broadband for all – an integrated approach for rural areas”. The Committee has, inter-alia, recommended that Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) should be provided to all the 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats to ensure availability of high speed broadband to all of them. The recommendations of the Committee are under consideration.

The Government does not proposes to involve Public Private Partnership (PPP) in this regard.

(f) & (g) At present, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) does not have any proposal to link Lakshadweep Island and the main land through OFC to provide broadband services. The present connectivity is through satellite media.