In a move to cover the remaining 5000 blocks across the country, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is planning to connect it through Wireless Broadband service after third generation spectrum allocation that is likely to schedule by the end of this year through e-auction process.
The State run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has already covered 1000 blocks and 50,000 of Common Service Centres. To cover the remaining 50,000 CSCs, DoT is planning to launch this ambitious project.
All villages in the range of 10k.m of surrounding areas would come under this connectivity and to benefit the e-governance services, it would essentially cover 40 institutions including schools, health centres, panchayats and common service centres (CSCs) in each block.
The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) –the fund constituted for promoting the telecom service in the rustic and remote areas of the country in which besides government, private telecom players also contribute by funding 5% allocation from their profits – is funding this project, which aim is to provide e-governance and data services in the rural areas. The project will be set up in the phased manner, as per official statement.
The telecom department has already convened a meeting with major technology providers, telecom service providers (TSPs) and Internet service providers (ISPs) to draft the tender procedures, specification and benchmark settings.
DoT is estimating that TSPs may utilise the existing passive and core infrastructure available for them. In this regard, Department has already appointed the consultants.
To prioritise the block-wise village, DoT is considering the requirements of respected ministries like Department of Information Technology (DIT), Human Resource Development, Health, Panchayati Raj, Home Affairs and other crucial ministries.
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