As per latest reports, National Optical Fibre Network(NOFN) under Digital India programme will be inaugurated by Prime Minister between 15-30 June. The NOFN project aims to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to 2.50 lakh gram panchayats in India by December 2016.
In the first phase, service will be launched in Kerala (all districts), Karnataka (Mandya, Chamarajnagar, Hassan), Chandigarh, Bihar (Kishanganj, Sheohar), Uttarakhind (Haridwar), Chhattisgarh(Batrarnpur), M.P(lndore) and Haryana(Faridahad). Department of Telecom and BBNL(Bharat Broadband Network Limited) has intimated BSNL to complete OFC works as by 31st May 2015.
NOFN works in the state of Kerala was supposed to be completed by March 31st, but has been delayed since. The project is now part of prestigious Digital India programme, but has been lagging behind schedule more than once. The committee formed to monitor the progress of the project has proposed to rename the project as BharatNet and expects to be completed only by December 2017 at an estimated cost of Rs 72,778 crore.
