Why is it in the news?

• PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection (KLI-SOFC) project, bringing high-speed internet connectivity to the Lakshadweep Islands.

More about the news

• The Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection (KLI-SOFC) project involves extending submarine cable connectivity from Kochi to eleven Lakshadweep Islands, including Kavaratti, Agatti, and Minicoy.
• Previously, communication with the Lakshadweep Islands relied solely on satellite connections, with limited bandwidth capacity that couldn’t meet the growing demand for connectivity.
• The project aims to provide high-speed wireline broadband connectivity through Fiber to the Home (FTTH) and 5G/4G mobile networks to the population of Lakshadweep Islands.
• The project is funded by the Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF), under the Department of Telecommunication.
• The submarine optical fibre connection spans a total link distance of 1,868 kilometres.
• BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) serves as the Project Executing Agency.
• M/s NEC Corporation India Pvt Ltd has received the contract for the project’s implementation.
• The project involves various activities such as Marine Route Survey, Submarine Cable laying, Civil Construction of CLS (Cable Landing Stations) stations, Installation, Testing, and Commissioning of End Terminals (SLTE).

Benefits of the Project

• Significant contribution to the ‘Digital India’ and ‘National Broadband Mission’ objectives of the Government of India.
• Expected to boost E-Governance, Tourism, Education, Health, Commerce, and Industries in the Lakshadweep region.
• Anticipated to lead to enhanced standards of living and accelerated social and economic development on the islands.
• The bandwidth created under this project will be available to all Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), strengthening their telecom services in the Lakshadweep Islands.