NOFN to spur Rs 3,00,000 crore market

NEW DELHI, INDIA: As Internet penetration is yet to see impressive growth, the government is banking high on its ambitious National Optic Fiber Network (NOFN) which is poised to connect 2,50,000 village panchayats by December, 2013. Industry body CII organised the first Broadband Sunmmit in the capital, today.

The government aims to facilitate collaboration between state governments and industry to spur new business models.

Speaking at the event Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said that the challenge is to help illiterate people to access information for empowerment. “We are spending Rs 35,000 crore in NOFN, NKN and other similar projects to create a secondary market worth of Rs 3,00,000 crore,” he said.

"Broadband," Sibal said, "is fundamental to inclusive growth. It will help people in addressing their day-to-day problems and industry should create compelling solution,” he stressed. The industry, he said, should look at affordability, accessibility and customization of content.

The government will drive fibre roll-out with its newly-formed agency Bharat Broadband and has earmarked Rs 20,000 crore for this mega project to be based on PPP model.