AP's every Gram Panchayats gets free WiFi by 2018

Amaravati, Dec 28: The Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh on Wednesday said every gram panchayat in the state will be provided free WiFi by the end of 2018.

He was speaking on the occasion of dedicating Andhra Pradesh Fiber Grid and drone technology to the nation by President Ram Nath Kovind.

"By the end of 2018, we will offer free WiFi in every gram panchayat and municipality in the state," Lokesh said.

He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for granting additional Rs. 860 crore to provide internet connectivity in all the gram panchayats in Andhra Pradesh.

The IT Minister also announced that as per the target given by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, one crore Internet connections by APSFL (Andhra Pradesh State Fibernet Limited) will be given by the end of 2018.

Lokesh informed that Andhra Pradesh has entered into an agreement with Google X, the R&D arm of Google to provide internet connectivity to even tribal villages.

"The Google X is now deploying world-class technology where we can give 20 gigabytes per second Internet speed to every tribal village in Andhra Pradesh. This is a wireless technology where two routers 20 kilometers apart can transmit 20 GBPS Internet. This is not first of its kind in the country but first of its kind in the world," Lokesh said.

Talking about the Fiber Grid network, Lokesh said 100000 households and 3200 enterprises have been connected with Fiber Grid network.

"We are not only offering Internet but offering triple play services: Under IPTV, we are offering 250 channels. We are giving WiFi Internet up to 15 MBPS speed for domestic use. The telephone is offered free, wherein one call anyone in the country for free. All this is offered for Rs. 149 per month, which is again a benchmark not only in Andhra Pradesh but in the country," Lokesh said.