The Kerala government plans to established an “affordable” network infrastructure across the state at the cost of ₹1,500 crore.
Kerala on Monday became the first state to have its own broadband service K-FON or ‘Kerala Fibre Optic Network’, a state-run initiative launched by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, in a bid to improve internet accessibility to the people.
The chief minister praised the project as a crucial milestone in Kerala’s transition to a knowledge economy and the promotion of an innovation-driven society while introducing the service and argued for universal internet access. According to the chief minister, by establishing connectivity in certain areas through K-FON, such as Edamalakudy in the heart of the forest, “no one would be left behind and everyone would be a part of the real Kerala story.”
All you need to know about K-FON or Kerala Fibre Optic Network:
Vijayan introduced K-FON as an alternative model to the corporate-run telecom sector. The move is a bid to bridge the digital divide by “freeing the people from the exploitation of private sector cable networks and mobile service providers,” he said.
The service is claimed to offer equivalent high speed and quality as other service providers, but at more affordable rates. The most basic plan would cost ₹299 (excluding GST) per month with a speed of 20 Mbps. It also comes with a free download limit of 3,000 GB each month. K-FON’s highest plan is priced at ₹1,249 (excluding GST) with a speed of 250 Mbps. The plan comes with a free download limit of 5,000 GB per month.