Will govt keep up optic fiber network deadline?

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The government's ambitious National Optic Fiber Network (NOFN) project is plagued by many issues such as the right of way (RoW), delivery of converged services and bleak PC penetration.

Even though the government is attracting private telecos to invest in the project, that will connect 2.5 lakh gram panchayats by 2014, it seems to be a rough road for the project.

The USO-funded initiative is the key to the objective of the National Telecom Policy (NTP) 2011 that includes the provision of broadband on demand.

Ironically, the much awaited project has apparently lost sheen among the service operators.

Plagued by issues such as delivery of converged services and bleak PC penetration, the project might miss the deadline, if industry pundits are to be believed. The architecture is not ready, while the government plans 2.5 Gigabit onwards.

Also, the RoW requires a nod from local municipalities after necessary procedure and payment.

SR Rao, additional secretary (T), DoT informed that a high-level technical group under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is discussing the NOFN architecture. The group is expected to come up with its report soon.

“With the government approval, last month, the process of optic fiber roll out in the country has already begun. In the next few days, the architecture will be finalized,” Rao said.