India Changes Tack And Tenders For Public-private Partnerships To Complete National Broadband Rollout
India has issued tenders for a public-private partnership intended to connect another 361,000 villages to the nation's BharatNet fibre optic network.
BharatNet aims to connect all of India's villages to the internet, by connecting them to optic fibre and then providing Wi-Fi access points for locals to use. The network's design calls for it to tap commercial networks wherever possible and provide a "middle mile" service.
The project is funded with a universal service obligation (USO) levy paid by telcos, but to date private entities engaged to build the network have been paid a fee for service and then used the network as a retail service provider.
The revised tender [PDF] changes that plan, instead calling for bidders to design, build and operate new connections in return for a 30-year concession to charge for its use. As that charge will be made to the USO fund, India's government is not out of pocket.
- Dell, Foxconn sign up for Indian servers-and-PCs manufacturing subsidies
- India orders 180-day sprint to wire 46,000 villages
- India to run optic fibre to 450,000 villages in 1,000 days and give 1.3bn a digital Health ID
The change of approach was designed as a post-COVID economic stimulus, with India's government tipping in US$2.5bn as an incentive to illuminate a path to profit for bidders.
This final tranche of BharatNet will, once installed, see all of India's 643,000 villages connected to the internet. With any luck, that will mean government digital services will finally become universally available, as all Indians enjoy affordable internet access. ®
Data: The Sword And Shield Against Disinformation
In the age of information overload, distinguishing fact from fiction has become a daunting task. Disinformation, the del... Read more
Taking Flight: Volocopter's Quest To Revolutionize Urban Mobility Gains Momentum
Volocopter, a pioneering company in the field of urban air mobility, is on a mission to transform how people move around... Read more
OnlyFans Under The Microscope: Addressing Concerns Over Child Safety
Concerns Over Child SafetyOnlyFans' ResponseRegulatory ActionsCollaborative EffortsFuture DirectionsConclusion Read more
The AI Arms Race: Big Tech's Bid For Dominance In Artificial Intelligence
In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, the race for dominance in artificial intelligence (AI) has intensified ... Read more
Decoding The Impact Of OpenAI's Sora Video Model On Industries And Jobs
In the realm of artificial intelligence, OpenAI's Sora video model stands out as a groundbreaking innovation, promising ... Read more
Apple Poaches Top Talent From Google To Strengthen AI Team
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to shape the future of technology, companies are intensifying their efforts to... Read more