New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet today approved the provision of submarine optical fibre cable (OFC) connectivity (OFC) between mainland Kochi and Lakshadweep Islands to improve telecommunication facilities.
The decision was announced by Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
An official statement said, the KLI Project envisages provision of a direct communication link through a dedicated submarine OFC between Kochi and 11 Islands of Lakshadweep.
The 11 islands include — Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Agati, Amini, Androth, Minicoy, Bangaram, Bitra, Chetlat, Kiltan and Kadmat, it added.
Meanwhile, the estimated cost of implementation is about Rs 1,072 crore including operational expenses for five years. The project would be funded by Universal Service Obligation Fund, the statement said, adding that the project is targeted to be completed by May 2023.
The approval for provision will vastly improve telecommunication facility in the Lakshadweep Islands by providing large bandwidth.
This submarine connectivity project will have vital role for delivery of e-Governance services at the doorstep of citizens, potential development of fisheries and high-value tourism, educational development in term of tele-education and in health care in terms of telemedicine facilities.
It will also help in establishment of numerous businesses, augment e-commerce activities and provide adequate support to educational institutes for knowledge sharing.
The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) has been nominated as Project Execution Agency and Telecommunications Consultant India Ltd. (TCIL) as the Technical Consultant of the project to assist Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), the statement further said.
It added that, the ownership of the asset under the project will rest with USOF, the funding agency, under Department of Telecommunication (DoT).
Currently, only medium of providing telecom connectivity to Lakshadweep is through satellites, but the bandwidth available is limited to 1 Gbps and lack of bandwidth is a major constraint in providing data services.
The government is accordingly committed to provide tele-communication facilities in Lakshadweep Islands and planning for laying the submarine optical fibre cable has been under consideration for some time.
Apart from this, high bandwidth communication facility to the Islands is also in agreement with realising the national objective of strengthening e-governance services and achieving the vision of Digital India, the statement added.
-RJV
