Question : Broadband Connections in Odisha

(a) whether 1800 Gram Panchayats in Odisha are provided with broadband connections and only 120 of them are working and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(b) whether the Government is reportedly not paying any attention towards the maintenance and proper functioning of the said connections thereby making them unusable and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government to restore broadband connectivity and ensure its maintenance and stability in all the Gram Panchayats of Odisha?

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, LAW & JUSTICE AND
ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) In Odisha, a total of 3992 GPs (including Block Headquarters) have been taken up in Phase-I for providing connectivity. Out of them, a total of 3463 GPs (including Block Headquarters) have been tested with broadband connections. At present, there are 1689 GPs with active broadband connections, out of which 206 GPs have commercial connections.
(b) & (c) For proper maintenance & functioning as well as for providing stable broadband connections, the following steps have been taken:
• Network is being monitored through Network Operating Centre (NOC) and its reports are being monitored on a regular basis.
• The Digital Communications Commission (DCC) on 13.06.2019 has approved to award the work of maintenance (i.e. O&M of incremental Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) network and First Line Maintenance of equipment and supporting infrastructure) in each of 1.25 lakh GPs of the BharatNet Phase-I, including in Odisha, to CSC e-Governance Services India Limited.
• The O&M of BharatNet Phase-II network, including in Odisha, is to be carried out mainly through the respective Project Implementation Agencies (PIA).
As enhanced utilisation of the network would help in better up- keep/operations of the network, the following steps have been taken towards this end:
• The infrastructure created under BharatNet Project to provide Broadband connections is being utilized through Service Provider(s), particularly BSNL and CSC e-Governance Services India Limited.
• The matter has already been taken up with the State Governments for taking Broadband connections by utilizing the BharatNet infrastructure in all the GPs of the country.
• Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections are being provided from BharatNet network.
• As part of this project, the last mile connectivity, through Wi-Fi or any other suitable broadband technology, is to be provided at all the GPs in the country. The Digital Communications Commission (DCC) on 13.06.2019 has approved to award the work of provisioning of 2 Wi-Fi Access Points (APs) in each of the 90,000 GPs of BharatNet Phase-I in all the States, including Odisha, except where Wi-Fi APs are provided under Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) schemes.