Echoing the
similar views,
Tonic Worldwide
Co-founder & CEO
Chetan Asher said
, allowing private
players to build
data centres and
encouraging
the production
of mobile
and network
devices will all
complement each
other in growing
the ecosystem.
the Home (FTTH) connections through
Bharatnet will link 100,000-gram
panchayats this year.
Artificial intelligence, Internet-of-
Things (IoT), 3D printing, drones, DNA
data storage, quantum computing, etc.,
are re-writing the world economic order.
Digital stakeholders from across the
business spectrum reacted positively to
the impetus laid by the government on
the Internet and technology in the budget.
However, some also pointed out that the
government’s intent will need to translate
on the ground in order for Digital India to
move full steam ahead.
FlexiLoans.com Co-Founder Abhishek
Kothari said "It is good to see technology
find a significant mention in the budget.
If done correctly, setting up Data Centre
Parks, Fibre to home and investments in
quantum computing, have the ability to
create a digital connected India. The proof
is always in the execution.”
Echoing the similar views, Tonic
Worldwide Co-founder & CEO Chetan
Asher said , allowing private players to
build data centres and encouraging the
production of mobile and network devices
will all complement each other in growing
the ecosystem.
Under the scheme all panchayats
will be provided high speed broadband
connections under BharatNet project by
March 2020.
The government has already connected
1 lakh gram panchayats under phase 1 of
BharatNet project.
The Phase II of the project is under
implementation, and a total of 2 lakh
GPs (gram panchayats) are targeted to be
completed by next month.
The Union Cabinet on July 19,
2017 approved a modified strategy for
implementing BharatNet under which,
the remaining 1,50,000 (approximately)
GPs in the country are to be provided
broadband connectivity in Phase-II of the
project.
Under BharatNet phase two, against
the target of providing last mile
connectivity to 1.5 lakh gram panchayats
(GPs), only about 7.45 per cent of these
have been made service ready so far.
As against a target of laying down 3.11
lakh km of optical fibre cable, only about
92,283 km of cable has been laid down as
of December end.
Despite the project missed the
deadline but the project is essentially play
a crucial role not only bridging the digital
divide and making rural India broadband
networked but it is also expected to speed
up and make efficient the digital delivery
of services to the poor.
www.smartgovernance.in | February 2020 15