With the Center allocating an extra ₹3,384 crore under Phase-III of the BharatNet project to deliver high-speed broadband access throughout the state, Odisha is poised for a significant expansion of its rural digital infrastructure. The money approved by the Digital India Mission will be used to expand Fiber to the Home (FTTH) access to villages and upgrade all 6,799 gram panchayats with Internet Protocol Multi-Protocol Label Switching (IP MPLS) technology in a ring topology. Under the direction of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the project is expected to be finished within the next three years.
The state government claims that the extended network would increase access to digital education, healthcare, e-governance, and rural economic activity by bringing internet services to over 50,000 communities. Each block will function as a Block Optical Fiber connection Center as part of the implementation approach. From there, connection will be expanded to Panchayat Optical Fiber Connectivity Centers and finally to individual homes. To enhance network dependability and service delivery, each block and gram panchayat would serve as a data exchange hub.
The initiative will greatly speed up Odisha’s digital transition, according to Electronics and Information Technology Minister Mukesh Mahaling, who praised Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supporting it. In an effort to promote digital infrastructure and technology adoption, the state administration also inked two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Wednesday.
The first is a tripartite agreement involving the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), the Odisha Electronics and IT Department, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and BSNL for implementation of the revised BharatNet programme in the state. The second MoU was signed between the Electronics and IT Department and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) to promote collaboration in emerging technologies, research and digital governance.