Kerala Fibre Optic Network / Representative Image

Kerala government's ambitious K-FON (Kerala Fibre Optic Network) project to provide high speed internet free to the poor and at affordable rates to others is finally becoming a reality.

The project, which was granted administrative approval on May 18, 2017, was supposed to be completed in December 2020. However, it got delayed due to multiple factors including coronavirus pandemic.

In the first phase, 500 free connections will be provided to each constituencies. As the total number of constituencies in the state is 140, a total of 70,000 beneficiaries will get connections. For this, the government has already identified 14,000 beneficiaries (100 each from 140 constituency). Local body departments have been assigned with the beneficiary identification. They will hand over the beneficiary list to local internet service providers.

Meanwhile, for offering the service, the state government has invited tenders from local internet service providers. The tenders need to be submitted within May 16. The technical bid starts from May 17. In one district, only one service provider will be allowed.

The plan is to provide a connectivity speed of 100 Mbps with 1 GB data consumption a day.

K-FON plans to lay 52,746 kilometres of optical cable across the state. The cables carrying internet through KSEB posts will connect households and offices to the core network. K-FON would also work as a platform for other internet service providers also. With the help of K-FON, any service provider can provide internet to any customer in the state. Government offices, local self-government establishments, hospitals, educational institutions and around 20 lakh households will receive free internet. Others will get internet service at a low price.

The state had declared internet connectivity as citizen’s right.

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