Although there are teething problems in making the network function, the BBNL services, in all probability, are expected to be available in at least 100 villages in the district by month-end.
Limited to 142 villages in seven mandals – Sirikonda, Yellareddy, Pitlam, Navipet, Armoor, Domakonda and Makloor – on pilot basis, the cables were laid and equipment was fixed in all villages under the project. Formerly called the National Fiber Optic Network (NFON), it is expected to bridge the gap between rural and urban India if implemented well.
As part of the most ambitious project launched in 2012, the survey in these mandals was conducted in 2013 and cable-laying began in the following year. After the BJP-led NDA came to power at the Centre, the NFON was renamed as Bharath Broadband Nigam Limited and an amount of Rs. 20,000 crore was allocated for the same. In the united Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam and Nizamabad were selected for the execution of the project. Chief General Manager Ramakrishna and General Manager T. Venkatesham and some other senior officers from the Bharath Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) arrived here to commission the network as an experiment at the panchyat office on July 1 last year.
The network, if becomes operational, will benefit various sections of the society by providing services like advice on agriculture to farmers and traders and health services to poor through video conferencing system. High speed network with 100 mbps connection will enable the local authorities to conduct live webcast lectures by agriculture experts and doctors for the benefit of illiterates and semi-literates. It will also provide basic computer training to local youth. “We certainly accept that there are several problems. However, we are confident of overcoming them and will be able to launch the service in at least 100 villages by the month-end. There are some technical snags and our people are trying to solve them. New passwords have been given to panchayats,” Mr. Venkatesham told The Hindu .
“The BBNL officials are coming every day to our office to make the network function since the last three days. Somehow, the problem is not getting solved,” says Ravinder, the panchayat assistant in this mandal headquarters town.
