The 6,236 gram panchayats of Odisha will get covered by the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), for which tripartite MoUs were signed with 10 States, including Odisha, and Union Territories in the presence of Union Minister of Communications & IT Kapil Sibal in New Delhi on Friday.
The Union Government has approved a project and created the NOFN connecting all the 2, 50,000 gram panchayats (GPs). The Central Govt, through Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), is funding the project while the contribution of State would be by providing free right of way (RoW) for laying OFC. The project envisages signing of a tripartite MoU for free Right of Way (RoW) among Central Govt, State and Bharat Broadband Network limited (BBNl) the SPV incorporated for execution of the project.
The aim is to empower rural masses by giving them access to information, public services including those of education, and financial inclusion.