GramNet to Connect All Villages through Wi-Fi | 27 Aug 2019

The Government has reiterated its commitment to provide Wi-Fi in all the villages through GramNet with connectivity between 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps speed.

  • During the 36th Foundation Day celebrations of Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), Minister of State for Communications announced that BharatNet also plans to provide 1 GBPS connectivity, which can be expanded up to 10 GBPS.
  • C-DOT also launched three latest innovations during Foundation Day Celebration, which are as follows:
    • XGSPON (10 G Symmetrical Passive Optical Network)
      • It can fulfil the increasing demands of high network speeds emanating from the new dimensions of user applications like IPTV, HD Video Streaming, Online Gaming.
      • It can also be a host of other cloud-based services that necessitate the seamless availability of high bandwidth.
    • C-Sat-Fi (C-DOT Satellite WiFi)
      • It is based on the optimal utilization of wireless and satellite communication to extend connectivity.
      • It offers the ease of deployment, which is ideally suited to addressing disasters and emergencies when no other means of communication are available.
      • It does not require the expensive Satellite Phones and can work on any WiFi-enabled phone.
    • CiSTB (C-DOT’s Interoperable Set-Top Box)
      • Based on a portable smart card like a mobile SIM, this solution will revolutionize the experience of the Cable TV operators by offering them a high degree of choice, ease and convenience without having to replace the once installed STB.
  • The above innovations seek to address the challenges in the Telecom Sector and empower Indian people especially in rural and remote areas as connectivity will bind people from all corners of the country.

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)

  • It was established in 1984.
  • It is an autonomous Telecom R&D centre of DoT, Government of India.
  • It is a registered society under the Societies Registration Act,1860.
  • It is a registered public-funded research institution with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Government of India.
  • Currently, C-DOT is working towards realising the objective of various flagship programmes of Govt. of India which include Digital India, BharatNet, Smart Cities etc.

GramNet is a part of National Broadband Mission (Rashtriya Broadband Abhiyan) to secure universal broadband access. Apart from this, there are other initiatives being taken under the same. Few being:

  • BharatNet– Providing 1 Gbps to Gram Panchayats upgradeable to 10 Gbps
  • NagarNet– Establishing 1 Million public Wi-Fi Hotspots in urban areas
  • JanWiFi– Establishing 2 Million Wi-Fi Hotspots in rural areas

Source: PIB