Solar cells to power Digital India programme in MP

The government's Digital India programme, aimed at providing high-speed internet connectivity to the rural areas, will overcome the problem of power outages by using solar power equipment.

The government's Digital India programme, aimed at providing high-speed internet connectivity to the rural areas, will overcome the problem of power outages by using solar power equipment.

"The solar backup and battery backup will last about six hours and enable uninterrupted internet services to the villages," Bharat Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL) chief general manager Ratan Ghosh said.

BBNL, established in 2012, is the government's nodal agency for setting up digital infrastructure to connect 2.5 lakh villages across India using optical fibre network.

The entire system of fault detection and repair has also been automated. The agency will use Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to identify any fault in the optical fibre cable once the system becomes operational.

"The entire network will be monitored by centres based in Bengaluru and Delhi and once the fault has been pinpointed, repair teams (present across the country) will be informed about the location via mobile," he said.

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has developed two Wi-Fi products - long distance and solar-powered Wi-Fi systems - to take care of the connectivity issues in rural areas. It has also developed a green power solution that will help increase the reach of national broadband network, BharatNet, beyond panchayats to the remotest corners of India.

The Union government aims to bring all 2.5 lakh villages across India under broadband services and enhance internet penetration from 300 million to 500 million within two and a half years.

35% infra work completed in MP

BBNL has completed 35% infrastructure work in Madhya Pradesh under the Digital India programme. The government has earmarked 10,582 villages out of 23,000-odd villages in Madhya Pradesh for laying optical fibre network under the first phase of the project.

"We expect to complete the first phase by the end of this financial year," Ghosh said. The government agency will lay about 62,000 km of optical fibre cable in MP to connect the 23,000-odd villages.