DoT pushing to finish broadband project roll out by March 2016

After missing several deadlines, the National Optical Fibre Network project, which aims to link 2.5 lakh village panchayats, may finally be ready by a year in advance at the instance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wants it rolled out in early 2016.

Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had announced earlier that the project will be completed by March 2017.

In a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on Digital India last month, it was decided that target dates for completing National Optical Fibre Network project will be advanced to early 2016.

Following this decision, Department of Telecom has written to the three public sector units- BSNL, RailTel and Power Grid to expedite work so as to complete the project by March 2016.

"NOFN is a priority project for the government and DoT has been advised to accelerate the project implementation such as to complete the project in March 2016," DoT Additional Secretary (AS) and Administrator Rita Teaotia said in a letter to all the three PSUs.

The DoT has proposed to launch broadband services in 1,000 village panchyats by October 30 whereas NDA government has set a target to connect at least 50,000 village panchayats by the high-speed broadband network by March 2015.

The UPA government had cleared the NOFN for Rs 20,000 crore to be rolled out through a special purpose vehicle BBNL but could not roll it out beyond pilot project in 3 blocks.

As per an official source, process of trenching is very slow and it has commenced only in 16 states and 1 union territory.

"Out of total 2.46 lakh km of optical fibre that has to be laid for the project, only 4,334 kms of trenching and pipe palying work has been completed. Cable has been pulled for 2,059 kms only. Work has not even started for 18 states including union territories," the source said.

Circle heads of state-run telecom firm BSNL have shared that village Sarpanch and pradhans at many places are not allowing BSNL to lay optical fibre and install broadband equipment without any clear government order and many of them are also demanding rent.

Another official source said that even orders of some important components like ducts required for laying optical fibre cable have not been placed by BSNL in many circles.

"Against requirement of 2.46 lakh km of PLB ducts for phase 1, purchase order for about 33,500 km has been placed and around 8,900 km has been received," the official said.

The DoT AS reviewed work done by each PSU and pulled them individually for slow movement of the project.