Optic fibre network will push e-commerce revolution: Prasad

Telecommunications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Tuesday said the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) project will usher in an e-commerce revolution in the country.

"The NOFN will lead to an empowered India with villages boarding the Internet superway. It will also lead to an explosion of e-commerce in the country," he said at the first meeting of the centre and states on various initiatives under the Digital India programme.

The NOFN aims at providing broadband connectivity to 2.5 lakh gram panchayats in India by March 2017.

Prasad also added that as Internet penetrates into every village and city, the people will go online and avail the e-commerce route to buy things and that will eventually lead to expansion of e-commerce and building eco-system.

"This will lead to creation of more jobs and growth in the economy," he added.

Earlier in the month, Prasad said: "A big revolution waiting to occur in the field of digital connectivity and once the government is able to create an enabling atmosphere, I am sure retailers, service providers, content creators will come on their own."

The previous government thought of it, but it was in limbo, he said. "We have decided that we shall reach 50,000 gram panchayats this year, 1 lakh next year and 1 lakh a year after that. This we are pursuing very very vigorously."