The state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), in collaboration with the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), is going to set up 25,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in its rural exchanges by next six months. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Friday in the presence of Communications Minister, Manoj Sinha.
According to a statement by BSNL, the setting up of 25,000 Wi-Fi hotspots shall be funded from the USO fund. Also, the government will be providing full capital expenditure and operational expenditure (OPEX) support.
“The OPEX support of 100% shall be provided by USOF for the first year and thereafter 75% in the second year, 50% support in the third year of operation shall be extended to BSNL”.
“Under this project, one Wi-Fi Acess Point shall be set up initially in each rural exchange,” it added.
The Minister, underscoring the market share of the telecom operator said that, “Since last year, our (BSNL) market share has increased by 0.30%. It rose from 9.05% to 9.35%. Estimates from the financial/economic side, the operating profit would be greater this fiscal from the last financial year”.
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It further added that the government will provide internet connectivity in rural areas as well and will provide a digital connectivity.
It told News18 that, “In the past few days, the trend had changed. The consumption of data from the first quarter to the second quarter has increased almost 60%, and in the third quarter, it rose by 3.5 times the consumption of the second quarter. That is why it was necessary that when this project is completed, the digital divide in the rural areas will be ended. The government has taken some immediate (urgent) solutions to that such as the step of providing services through 25,000 Wi-Fi Hotspots and it has been entrusted to the BSNL”.
