Context

∙ The Prime Minister of India inaugurated Kochi – Lakshadweep Submarine Optical Fibre Cable to provide 100 Gbps internet connectivity to the Lakshadweep.

About

∙ For the first time since independence, Lakshadweep will be connected through Submarine Optic Fibre Cable.

ο Earlier, the only means of communication with the Islands was through Satellite medium, which had limited bandwidth capacity and was not able to meet the growing bandwidth demand.

∙ The project was funded through the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), which is set to be renamed as Digital Bharat Nidhi after the Telecommunications Act, 2023 is notified.

∙ Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is the Project Executing Agency.

∙ Kavaratti, Lakshadweep’s capital, will be connected along with the islands of Agatti, Amini, Kadmat, Chetlet, Kalpeni, Minicoy, Androth, Kiltan, Bangaram and Bitra.

Significance of KLI – SOFC

∙ It helps in achieving the objective of ‘Digital India’ and ‘National Broadband Mission’ and for rolling out various e-governance projects of Government of India in Lakshadweep Islands.

∙ Social infrastructure like Tourism, Education, Health etc will get a boost that further helps in improvement in standards of living of the people in Island and accelerate overall social and economic development in these areas.

∙ The potential of developing Lakshadweep as a logistics hub will get strength from this project,∙ High speed broadband will be provided through FTTH and 5G/4G Mobile network