Broadband internet Connection to all Govt schools by 2012

Union IT and Communications Minister, A. Raja announced that under the rural broadband project by 2012, all Gram Panchayats, Government High Secondary Schools and Public Health Centres will be provided broadband connectivity.

The Minister said that funds from USO are being extensively deployed to increase broadband connectivity at each block and village level. He added while efforts are on to provide broadband ready devices at affordable prices, the government plans to offer bundled schemes including PCs along with broadband connection.

The Minister also used the occasion to laud the efforts of IGNOU in providing mobile-education services.

While commenting over the need for spreading education through broadband and development of content in local language, Raja said, "It is heartening to note that efforts have already been initiated in this direction. We need to make available free tools and fonts to the public for all the major Indian languages. Then only, the domain of knowledge can be easily extended to our common man.”

“The government is planning to launch bundled schemes of broadband along with customer premise equipment, including PCs with the subsidy support from USO fund”, said the Union IT and Communications Minister A. Raja