Babu's initiative on net speed gets pat from centre

Hyderabad, May 15: In a major boost to the relentless efforts of the AP State Govt. to provide 100 mega bytes per second (Mbps) Internet connection to all the households in the State, including nook and corner of the rural/tribal hamlets, the Centre has lauded the initiatives of the Chandrababu Naidu for laying aerial Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) on the power distribution poles to reach out to each and every village. In a letter addressed to Dr. S.P. Tucker, AP Chief Secretary, Union Secretary, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology J S Deepak has sought help of Andhra Pradesh government in implementing optical fiber cable connectivity to 2.50 lakh gram panchayats in the country in all the States. In his letter, Deepak specially mentioned that AP has followed an innovative approach in using the technology for mapping power lines that includes mapping of the locations of substations and electrical poles from blocks down to the gram panchayats. He also said the most remarkable feature of AP mapping has been that the entire Statewide mapping was accomplished in a record one week. After mapping, AP has laid about 10,000 km Aerial Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) on electrical poles in just three months. States are encouraged to follow the procedure adopted by Andhra Pradesh, Deepak indicated in his letter to all other States in the country. Sharing the content of the letter with top officials in power sector and Infrastructure department, Ajay Jain, Principal Secretary, Energy, Infrastructure and Investment, GoAP and Vice-Chairman, AP State Energy Conservation Mission, has stated that the AP State Govt. under the able leadership of the Chief Minister leading the way and has become the torch-bearer in quickly adopting the latest technologies available for rendering better services to people. In laying of OFC, the AP administration has followed an innovative approach in using smart phone technology and resources of National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) scheme and DISCOM personnel. He appreciated the efforts of officials of APTRANSCO, APDISCOMS & AP State Fibernet Ltd., (APSFL) for striving to achieve this rare distinction and recognition from none other than the Union Govt. AP Fiber Grid is the means through which the vision of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is being achieved to make available highly qualitative and affordable digital services (Data, voice and video) to households, government offices and private agencies on demand in the State. Ajay Jain instructed the officials not to be complacent with this and maintain the same tempo in completing all ongoing projects which facilitate extending power supply at global standards and to provide on demand, affordable and end–to–end broadband connectivity of 15 to 20 Mbps for households and 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps for institutions and enterprises by 2018.