Rs 30K cr needed to take broadband to villages: Pitroda

In order to provide broadband connectivity to over 2,50,000 village, the government will probably have to spend up to Rs 30,000 crore, Sam Pitroda, Advisor to Prime Minister, said today.

"...We need 30,000-40,000 km more of optical fibre and we are discussing whether it should be laid over the powerline or underground. We also need to get GPS applications... We probably need Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 crore for all this," Pitroda told reporters on the sidelines of BSNL's VOIP services launch here.

However, the government is taking steps to reduce the project costs and expedite connectivity.

"We held a high-level meeting last month and will hold it again tomorrow. We are working on reducing the cost of the project and expedite connectivity to panchayats," Pitroda added.

The government is planning to provide high speed internet broadband connectivity to all villages under its National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) scheme.

Asked about the timeline for completion of the project, Pitroda said, "We would like to get it done in the next two years."

The connectivity will not only improve delivery of government schemes, but will also empower rural people, he said.

"We have a plan in collaboration for this with BSNL, RAILTEL, department of telecommunications, information technology ministry and with private companies," Pitroda said.