K-Fon Gets Cabinet Nod : Free Internet to 2 Lakh Families

Web Desk‌Updated: Thursday Nov 7, 2019

K-Fon Gets Cabinet Nod : Free Internet to 2 Lakh Families
Read more: http://cms.deshabhimani.com/english/news/preview/1032

Thiruvananthapuram : Aimed at boosting internet network and providing high-speed data to all in the state, the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vaijayan, approved the K-Fon project on Wednesday.

Kerala had announced internet as citizen right and K-Fon(Kerala Fibre Optic Network) is designed to provide it cost-free for all eventually.

In its first phase, 20 lakh families will be provided free high-speed internet connection while others can avail it at nominal charges.

The project cost is estimated at Rs 1548 crore and will be funded by KIIFB(Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board).

Robust optical fibre through the entire state and hi-speed data will reach homes via these. Other internet providers too can make use of these cables, subject to govt terms.

The project In its first phase, 20 lakh families will be provided free high-speed internet connection while others can avail it at nominal charges.

K-FON will take off as a joint venture by Kerala State Electricity Board and Kerala State IT Infrastructure Ltd.

Tender has been invited from a consortium headed by public sector giant, Bharat Electronics.

The project when completed by Dec 2020, is expected to aid education and boost I-T sector. It will also boost up Artificial Intelligence, Block Chain, Internet of Things and Startups.

Over 30,000 govt establishments and educational institutions will receive high-speed internet, via the project. It is also designed to improvise e-Health scheme. I-T parks, airports and harbours too are expected to reap benefits from the scheme.

Small enterprises and shops in rural stretches can avail internet facility for their businesses. Also, high-quality video conferencing will be possible, lending ease to traffic management.

Only 20 percent of the mobile towers are networked via fibre optics. With realisation of K-FON, all towers will be brought into the ambit.

Tags :