K-FON, providing free internet to poor, to be launched on 5 June, says Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Vijayan had earlier said that the K-FON network would provide internet connectivity to schools, hospitals, and other public institutions.

ByPTI

Published May 20, 2023 | 12:21 PM Updated May 20, 2023 | 12:21 PM

Kerala internet connectivity project K-FON

The Left government’s ambitious Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) project will be launched on 5 June. It seeks to provide free internet connectivity to the poor, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Vijayan said around 20 lakh economically backward families will be provided with internet service free of cost. K-FON will be available to others at an affordable rate.

In a Facebook post, the chief minister said that 18,000 government offices in the state have been provided internet facilities through the ₹1,500 crore-K-FON project.

Vijayan said, “The basic infrastructure facilities to provide internet to 7,000 houses have been completed. 748 houses have been given connection.”

He said K-FON was an alternative to the corporates in the telecom sector.

“The government has planned K-FON to stop the exploitation by private cable and mobile service providers. The project which will help the state overcome the digital divide. It will be implemented through the state electricity and IT departments,” Vijayan said.

He said K-FON is Kerala’s own internet service which will help strengthen digital infrastructure in the state.

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Internet a fundamental right

Kerala was the first state to declare the Internet as a citizen’s fundamental right.

A consortium of public-sector companies, including Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and Railtel, along with certain private companies, is executing the project.

Vijayan had earlier said that the K-FON network would provide internet connectivity to schools, hospitals, and other public institutions. “It will be a catalyst for the knowledge-based economy envisioned by the state”.

Also read: K-FON to give free internet services to 14,000 BPL families

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