THE MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI PRAMOD MAHAJAN)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) The major steps taken in this regard are as below:-
(i) Internet Policy has been implemented and parties in the Government, public and private sector have been licensed to provide internet services in the country. No license fee is payable for first five years and a nominal fee of one rupee is to be paid after five years.
(ii) The Internet Policy approved by Government provides inter-connection of networks and setting up of international gatwways by the internet services provider independent of VSNL.
(iii) The infrastructure for internet is proposed to be upgraded as below:-
(a) Department of Telecommunication Services is setting up national internet backbone in the country. Internet nodes are proposed to be set up in 324 cities in the country including all the district headquarters.
(b) Internet Service Providers(ISPs) are allowed to set up last mile linkage freely by fibre optic or by radio communication.
(c) The internet access is also allowed through authorised cable TV.
(iv) Students are being given one time concession on internet accounts by Department of Telecommunicatio Service.
(v) Access to internet on local call basis from the nearest internet node has been provided throughout the country except in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Leh (J&K).
(vi) The existing departmental Public Call Operators (PCO) and Subscriber Truck Dialing(STD) booths are proposed to be upgraded to public tele-info/cyber-centres. These centres will provide mukti-utility services such as internet, e-mail access and internet libraries.
(vii) Internet Services is also being provided by National Informatic Centre(NIC) and Education and Research Network (ERNET) India Society who are mainly serving for government sector and educational/research community, respectively.
(c) to (e) A MoU has been signed between MP Government and Software Technology park of India(STPI) to provide High Speed Data Communication facility in Indore that will provide nodes at Gwalior and Bhopal. In addition, VSNL has recently commissioned an earthstation at Indore for providing internet connectivity.
Department of Telecommunication Services is in the process of establishing National Backbone for providing internet access to all Secondary Switching Area with the internet gateway connection at six places namely Delhi, Mumbai, Pune Chennai, Bangalore and Calcutta.
