Rs 10,000 cr will be pumped in BharatNet in 2017-18: Jaitley

Aiming to strengthen its Digital India push, the government on Wednesday said it will pump Rs 10,000 crore in 2017-18 in its BharatNet project to lay optical fibre cables (OFC).

"Under the BharatNet Project, OFC has been laid in 1,55,000 km. I have stepped up the allocation for BharatNet Project to Rs 10,000 crore in 2017-18," Jaitley said while presenting the Union Budget for 2017-18.

"By the end of 2017-18, high speed broadband connectivity on optical fibre will be available in more than 150,000 gram panchayats, with Wi-Fi hot spots and access to digital services at low tariffs," he added.

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Saying the telecom sector is an important component of the country's infrastructure eco system, Jaitley said the recent spectrum auctions have removed spectrum scarcity in the country.

"This will give a major fillip to mobile broadband and Digital India for the benefit of people living in rural and remote areas."

The Minister said the government will launch a DigiGaon initiative, which will provide tele-medicine, education and skills through digital technology.

IANS

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