Seven Maharashtra cities to get next-generation network in FY17

In a major step towards boosting the “Digital India” initiative in Maharashtra, Union Minister for Communication & Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad announced to launch Next Generation Network (NGN) in major cities during the next financial year. Announcing the road map for improving connectivity in Maharashtra, Prasad said that four lakh connections under NGN would be made available in the state during the FY 2016-17.

The next-gen network is aimed at better quality broadband connectivity. NGN Service would be available in Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Kalyan and Nanded in Maharashtra and Goa, which is also part of the Maharashtra Telecom circle. NGN is a packet based network, which provides voice, data and other media services at high speed.

"In fiscal 2016-17, we will have 4 lakh connections in Maharashtra under Next Generation Network (NGN)," Prasad said during addressing a press conference in Mumbai recently. Prasad asserted that connectivity should be the utmost priority for making Digital India campaign successful. He said several steps are being taken to address the issues of connectivity including the spread of broadband, Wi-Fi and Next Generation Network across the country.

The Minister said ‘Digital India’ is aimed at empowering the poor and the underprivileged. “We want a small time tea-seller, a paanvala, a carpenter to seek services through his mobile phones. That is the concept of real ‘Digital India’.

As per the proposed plan, 174 Wi-Fi Hotspots, 4 Lakh Next Generation Network Connections will be provided in Maharashtra. The government will also establish 35 Rural BPOs with 3500 seats. Prasad informed that mobile phone connectivity has increased to 100 crores and internet connectivity to 40 crores. “We will strengthen Digital India for health, education, entertainment and eCommerce and to make India a truly empowered society”, he asserted.

For Mumbai, Prasad said, the MTNL was laying Optical fibre which aims to provide High Speed Broadband to 1 lakh households in the city. “6,000 city surveillance cameras will be installed at 1800 locations, in collaboration with the Mumbai Police” he added.

Nanded IT Association has thanked the Union Minister for short listing Nanded under NGN. Dipak Mortale, president of the association said that it would help to balance Industrial growth in the

state. We are grateful to Ravi Shankar Prasad for NGN facility. This is for the first time Nanded have been given top priority for the updated technology. This NGN is very useful for the growth of IT

Industries in Nanded.