AP to provide Internet, cable to all villages by April 2016: Chandrababu Naidu

New Delhi: Announcing grand plans to lead the country in digital connectivity, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said his government is working on a project to provide Internet connection to all houses in the villages by April 2016.

Besides, Naidu, whose vision is to make Andhra Pradesh a state with the highest happiness index by 2029, said his government's project also aims to provide cable and telephone connection to all village homes in the next five months.

"Government of India under Digital India wants to give 20 Mbps for very village. Then I discussed and said this should be for every home. Last mile connectivity is important. There are electrical ports and connections to almost all the houses in the village. This can be used.

"Today local people, in villages and cities, are using the cable network. We have prepared a project report. With Rs 320 crore, we are able to connect within 5 months time to the last village," he said at the Delhi Economics Conclave. Andhra Pradesh has around 16,000 villages.

"Every village, every home will get 20 Mbps internet connectivity, cable TV and telephone connection. The cost will me more or less Rs 100 per month. With this connectivity will be a reality," Naidu added.

Enumerating advantages of digital connectivity, Trai Chairman R S Sharma said it can help in making government processes easier and efficient.

On Aadhaar, he said that it is the most surest way to check duplicity and will help in saving government subsidy payouts and resources.

Sharma, who was earlier the Secretary of Department of Electronics and IT, suggested that the government besides working on providing an identity and bank account through Jan Dhan should also work on providing withdrawal facilities.

"There are very few withdrawal facilities for the people in the villages. If we want to see more success, we need to provide facilities in villages for withdrawal of credit as well as bring down the cost of transactions," he suggested.

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