Expert Panel on NOFN: Key Recommendations
Expert Panel on NOFN: Key Recommendations
Question: An expert panel was set up to expedite launch of broadband in rural areas. Examine its key recommendations.
About NOFN
• NOFN was conceived by the Telecom Commission dating back to 2011
• It is oriented towards building a broadband infrastructure network connecting block headquarters to gram panchayat
• It is steered by BBNL/Bharat Broadband Network Limited
• An expert committee was set up for speedy implementation of NOFN which comprised members such as:
• Former DeiTY secretary J. Satyanarayana
• Ex NASSCOM Presidents Kiran Karnik and Som Mittal
Recommendations
• Overhaul of BBNL is needed for successful implementation of Bharat.Net/NOFN
This will bring in more autonomy, flexibility and industry leadership for quick decision making
• The committee also recommended upgrading and renaming the project in keeping with the mission of Digital India
• NOFN is vital for Digital India as the latter targets 1.75 million broadband connections by 2017 and 600 million by 2020 with at least 2 Mbps download speed with availability of 100 Mbps on demand
• The committee has also suggested pilots to assess if BSNL’s duct infrastructure can be used for lowering project posts
• The committee calculated that implementation of the projects will result in benefits of INR 66,465 crore in FY2018-2019
• Panel also recommended that post of chairman and MD be split
• Report indicated BBNL staff should be world class and it should be able to recruit from civil services and PSU ranks as well
• Committee also recommends new approach for delayering decision making for speeding up implementation of project
• Empowered Project Group will be headed by communications ministry and top officials along with BBNL chairman, as per the committee
• Bharat Net Council will be headed by IT minister and required to meet on a bi-annual basis for inter agency coordination while committees will be established at the state level for meeting the problems of BharatNet implementation.
• Panel has also sought adequate funding along with creation of formal channels of communication
• The committee also said determination of demand for bandwidth and its pricing is best left to market forces
• Report of the committee has identified three implementation models namely the state government-led model, the central public sector unit-led model and the private sector-led model. However, the funding responsibility should be with the Centre "to ensure equality of treatment of all states”
• Right of Way issues can be tackled through lump sum payments to agencies by BBNL such as NHAI, oil companies and so on. Common procedure is being formulated for RoW approvals, according to the panel
• Committee has recommended that overhead fibre cables should be installed on electricity polls only when suitable RoW arrangements need to be made with electric utility service providers
• Committee also recommends involvement of states apart from telecom players
Facts and Stats
• Committee estimates that 20,000 gram panchayats would need to be connected over radio and around 3,000 over satellite media.
• For the rest of the 57,000 gram panchayats, bandwidth capacity will be provided through optic fibre media via linear architecture
• Around INR 162 crore is needed for connecting 30,000 gram panchayats with satellite media
• Revamp of NOFN initiative will entail a 3 fold increase in cost from INR 20,000 crore to 72,778 crore
• NOFN project was approved in 2011 by the Cabinet
• The NDA government has set target to complete roll out in 50,000 village panchayats by March 31, 2015, and another 1 lakh by March 2016 and the rest by end of 2016.
