Free WiFi in all AP gram panchayats by 2018-end: Nara Lokesh

Andhra Pradesh Information Technology Minister Nara Lokesh on Wednesday said every gram panchayat in the state will be provided free WiFi by the end of 2018.

He was speaking on the occasion of dedicating Andhra Pradesh Fiber Grid and drone technology to the nation by President Ram Nath Kovind.

"By the end of 2018, we will offer free WiFi in every gram panchayat and municipality in the state," Lokesh said.

He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for granting additional Rs. 860 crore to provide internet connectivity in all the gram panchayats in Andhra Pradesh.

The IT Minister also announced that as per the target given by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, one crore Internet connections by APSFL (Andhra Pradesh State Fibernet Limited) will be given by the end of 2018.

Lokesh informed that Andhra Pradesh has entered into an agreement with Google X, the R&D arm of Google to provide internet connectivity to even tribal villages.

"The Google X is now deploying world class technology where we can give 20 gigabytes per second Internet speed to every tribal village in Andhra Pradesh. This is a wireless technology where two routers 20 kilometres apart can transmit 20 GBPS Internet. This is not first of its kind in the country but first of its kind in the world," Lokesh said.

Talking about the Fiber Grid network, Lokesh said 100000 households and 3200 enterprises have been connected with Fiber Grid network.

"We are not only offering Internet but offering triple play services: Under IPTV, we are offering 250 channels. We are giving WiFi Internet up to 15 MBPS speed for domestic use. Telephone is offered free, wherein one call anyone in the country for free. All this is offered for Rs. 149 per month, which is again a benchmark not only in Andhra Pradesh but in the country," Lokesh said.

He also briefed how the Fiber Grid network was developed.

"First time in the history of our country, 3,75000 poles across the state were tagged by the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) workers in just three days. For the first time ever, overhead poles were used to lay fibre because laying fibre through underground would have taken lot of money and time," Lokesh said.

He further added that a unique clamping technology was used to make this fibre hang on every pole.

"Now, this technology is patent-pending that came out of Andhra Pradesh. For the first time ever, 24000 kilometres of Fiber trunk was laid in record nine months. It is not only record for India but record on global standards," Lokesh said.

President Kovind dedicated Fiber Grid and drone project to the nation in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

AP State FiberNet Limited (APSFL) is responsible for undertaking the works of AP Fibergrid , its operations and maintenance and business activities.

The AP government wants to use drones for governance, administration, and for the maintenance of law and order in the state.