The Panchayat Connection

The tech industry sees a major business opportunity in increased allocation for the BharatNet project.

- Goutam Das

It appeared like a tiny top-up to a Budget that was brimming with too many bottom-of-the-pyramid allocations. Nevertheless, it must have had technology industry bigwigs close to salivating. In his Budget speech, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced that he would step up the allocation for the BharatNet Project – a nation wide optic fibre network being laid – to ₹10,000 crore in 2017/18. “By the end of 2017/18, high-speed broadband connectivity on optical fibre will be available in more than 1,50,000 gram panchayats, with wi-fi hot spots and access to digital services at low tariffs,” he said.