In an attempt to strengthen its BharatNet initiative aimed at connecting 250,000 gram panchayats through the Internet, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government plans to skill people from rural areas for the maintenance of the optic fibre network.
Also, Bharat Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL), which is setting up the optical fibre network, is in talks with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to outsource the operations and maintenance (O&M) of BharatNet to the state-run firm.
One of the prominent electoral planks of the NDA government was job creation which led to initiatives such as Make in India and Skill India aimed at creating employment opportunities.
As part of the exercise, CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd, the nodal agency for Common Service Centers (CSC), will shortly start a skilling course to train people for repairing faults in optic fibre cable as well as line maintenance.
“We aim to train one person in every village and gram panchayat for maintenance of optic fibre network. We will launch such skilling course, somebody has to maintain it (BharatNet) and we can’t create a talent pool overnight,” said CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd chief executive officer Dinesh Tyagi.
BharatNet, the government’s ambitious project first conceptualised in October 2011 to offer broadband connectivity to end-to-end users, plans to provide Internet connection at a speed of 100 megabits per second. The first phase will provide connectivity to 100,000 gram panchayats by March 2017, while in the second phase, around 150,000 gram panchayats will be connected by December 2018.
“CSC will also launch some courses on how to repair mobile, electric equipment including television and agriculture machinery. Most of the content will be in a digital format and physical classes can be organised in village blocks after a specific time period,” Tyagi said.
InfraCircle reported about CSC’s plan to digitally literate 60 million people in rural areas in the next three years on 20 September.
BSNL chairman and managing director Anupam Shrivastava confirmed the development and said, “We are in discussions with BBNL for operations and maintenance of BharatNet. In the current form, the contract will be for managing optic fibre cable in 80,000 gram panchayats and estimated to be around Rs.300-400 crore.”
Bharat Broadband Network, a special purpose vehicle, has been set up to execute the Rs.75,000 crore BharatNet project.
“Once the BharatNet project is fully laid and commissioned, the contract value will be over Rs.1,000 crore. The discussions are on for the last two-three months and we hope to finalise the contract in another month,” Shrivastava said.
Experts believe that BharatNet will play an important role in the Digital India initiative thereby facilitating the e-governance plans of the government.
“We have recorded good growth in wireless segment, i.e., mobile. It has helped in bridging the digital divide to a significant extent. BharatNet is important for spreading connectivity to areas which are still unconnected via Internet. Broadband will be a cost-effective solution to spread connectivity and even for government’s e-governance initiatives,” said Deepak Kumar, founder analyst, B&M Nxt, a marketing research and content consulting firm.
The programme has also faced criticism over delays.
Vijay Mukhi, a Mumbai-based cyber expert, says the government has been slow in implementation of the BharaNet project.
“In the telecom space, the private sector has done more than what government has done,” he added.
The BharatNet programme was initially estimated to cost Rs.20,000 crore, with its deadline been repeatedly revised due to hurdles such as lack of coordination among implementing agencies and right of way issues.
Also, Bharat Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL), which is setting up the optical fibre network, is in talks with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to outsource the operations and maintenance (O&M) of BharatNet to the state-run firm.
One of the prominent electoral planks of the NDA government was job creation which led to initiatives such as Make in India and Skill India aimed at creating employment opportunities.
As part of the exercise, CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd, the nodal agency for Common Service Centers (CSC), will shortly start a skilling course to train people for repairing faults in optic fibre cable as well as line maintenance.
“We aim to train one person in every village and gram panchayat for maintenance of optic fibre network. We will launch such skilling course, somebody has to maintain it (BharatNet) and we can’t create a talent pool overnight,” said CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd chief executive officer Dinesh Tyagi.
BharatNet, the government’s ambitious project first conceptualised in October 2011 to offer broadband connectivity to end-to-end users, plans to provide Internet connection at a speed of 100 megabits per second. The first phase will provide connectivity to 100,000 gram panchayats by March 2017, while in the second phase, around 150,000 gram panchayats will be connected by December 2018.
“CSC will also launch some courses on how to repair mobile, electric equipment including television and agriculture machinery. Most of the content will be in a digital format and physical classes can be organised in village blocks after a specific time period,” Tyagi said.
InfraCircle reported about CSC’s plan to digitally literate 60 million people in rural areas in the next three years on 20 September.
BSNL chairman and managing director Anupam Shrivastava confirmed the development and said, “We are in discussions with BBNL for operations and maintenance of BharatNet. In the current form, the contract will be for managing optic fibre cable in 80,000 gram panchayats and estimated to be around Rs.300-400 crore.”
Bharat Broadband Network, a special purpose vehicle, has been set up to execute the Rs.75,000 crore BharatNet project.
“Once the BharatNet project is fully laid and commissioned, the contract value will be over Rs.1,000 crore. The discussions are on for the last two-three months and we hope to finalise the contract in another month,” Shrivastava said.
Experts believe that BharatNet will play an important role in the Digital India initiative thereby facilitating the e-governance plans of the government.
“We have recorded good growth in wireless segment, i.e., mobile. It has helped in bridging the digital divide to a significant extent. BharatNet is important for spreading connectivity to areas which are still unconnected via Internet. Broadband will be a cost-effective solution to spread connectivity and even for government’s e-governance initiatives,” said Deepak Kumar, founder analyst, B&M Nxt, a marketing research and content consulting firm.
The programme has also faced criticism over delays.
Vijay Mukhi, a Mumbai-based cyber expert, says the government has been slow in implementation of the BharaNet project.
“In the telecom space, the private sector has done more than what government has done,” he added.
The BharatNet programme was initially estimated to cost Rs.20,000 crore, with its deadline been repeatedly revised due to hurdles such as lack of coordination among implementing agencies and right of way issues.
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