Telecom Minister meets state IT ministers; discusses NOFN

NEW DELHI: Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today met IT ministers of states and discussed National Optic Fiber Network (NOFN), a project that would enable high-speed Internet to rural populace.

"Seven states have offered to come up with state or SPV (special purpose vehicle) run model. Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have already been talking about it," Prasad said after the meet.

The committee on National Optical Fiber Network also made public its report, in which the states estimated cost of the project was escalated to Rs 72,778 crore from about Rs 20,000 crore approved earlier.

Prasad has asked the states to collaborate in the project and fast-track the project within time-line.

The government suggested three models to the states to roll out the project--current model operated by CPSUs, SPV or state-run and private sector led model - to expedite the broadband network reach in the country.