Guntur: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the Fibernet scheme at Mori village in East Godavari district on 29th December. Under the scheme, Internet, Cable and Telephone connections will be provided for Rs.149.
The Chief Minister is launching the scheme at Mori village as it had earned reputation for achieving in implementing Swacch Bharat scheme. The three services are being provided in the village now on a trial run. The government plans to implement the broadband project in other districts in a phased manner. In all, the government is targeting to provide these services to 12 million households in the newly carved State.
Energy and CRDA Principal Secretary Ajay Jain said that 15 MBPS Internet, Cable TV and Telephone connection would be given to all households in the state for just Rs.149. He informed that 250 TV Channels would be provided, 50 paisa per minute would be charged for mobile phone subscribers.
The set top box costs Rs.4,000 and subscribers could buy it on instalment basis also, The government wanted to implement the scheme as part of bringing revolution in Information and Technology in the state. In order to provide the three connections, the government set up Andhra Pradesh State Fibernet limited (APSFL).
The Infrastructure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (INCAP) will have 23,000 km long overhead optic fiber cable network for carrying cable TV and internet connections. The electricity poles will be used for the overhead cable network.
However, the AP government will not provide the broadband or cable TV connection to individual subscribers. A multiple system operator (MSO) will serve as an agency between the subscribers and the state government. It is estimated that there are about 10,000 MSOs in the state and the government will utilise their services.
“They can use our network in places where they do not have their cables. This will be a win-win situation for both the government and the private operators,” a senior official from INCAP said.
As part of implementing AP Fibernet scheme, the government had entered agreements with Telecom giants Airtel and Vodaphone. The APSFL would emerge as the biggest networking agency and it will also encourage cashless transactions.
