BSNL to connect 1 lakh panchayats with high-speed Wi-Fi
Monday, April 11, 2016
As the government's rural broadband project is facing long delays, telecom PSU BSNL is testing an alternative Wi-Fi-based network to connect about 1 lakh village panchayats in a year with high-speed Internet.
"The process of laying fibre network calls for huge amount of physical labour. We have started a pilot to test broadband connectivity to village panchayats using Wi-Fi network. With this we are hopeful of connecting about 1 lakh village panchayats in a year," BSNL Chairman and Managing Director Anupam Shrivastava told PTI.
The state-run firm is testing sustainability of technology in three villages in Alwar district of Rajasthan.
"We have written to the Department of Telecom about this project and looking for support of USO fund for it. Once we get the approval, we will start process for commercial deployment," Shrivastava said.
Under the project, a wireless network over six kilometres has been set up connecting Wi-Fi towers in three villages -- Karenda, Phalsa and Bahadri -- with BSNL's exchange in Bhiwadi. About 500 test connections have been provided to various users, including schools. A domestic telecom equipment maker firm, Vihaan Networks, is implementing the pilot project for BSNL.
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