TRAI has issued a consultation paper regarding a new model for setting up BharatNet, the government’s national optical fiber network (NOFN). The document is up on its website, with the authority seeking comments from stakeholders till December 7.
BharatNet aims to grant internet access to all 2.5 lakh panchayats in the country through broadband connectivity. Regions earlier had only 3 options for its launch. One involved a SPV (special purpose vehicle) Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) model supported by RailTel, MTNL and BSNL. The other 2 choices consisted of either a state-run or private sector system.
According to PTI, the implementation of BharatNet across India has been very slow since it was approved by the cabinet in October 2011. The project was supposed to be completed within 2 years at a cost of Rs 20000 crore, but continuos delays have made this unlikely. TRAI noted that the official BBNL website had only connected 3384 gram panchayats in India till November 2 this year.
Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad claimed otherwise back in September 2015, stating that 68000 villages had been equipped with broadband data access under BharatNet. Given the sluggish pace of the plan, TRAI suggests an alternate model called Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT). Under this scheme, a private firm designs, constructs and handles infrastructure such as power plants and highways.
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This continues for a limited period of time, after which all operations are transferred over to the government. TRAI has come out with the new consultation paper in order to discuss any problems that may arise out of such a system. It wants the various stakeholders involved in the process to give forward their views on the way BOOT should be run.