Kerala budget 2017: 20 lakh families to enjoy free internet

Thiruvananthapuram: As part of its vision to bridge the digital divide, the LDF government has come out with free internet services till grassroot levels and a fresh optic fibre connectivity across the state would be established. Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said in his budget speech that free internet connections would be provided to 20 lakh poor families. For others, internet service will be provided at a lower rate. “Kerala is poised to become one of the rare places where internet facility will be the right of a citizen,” he said.

All basic internet services will be made available free of cost till grassroots level through the Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON), which would be established with the support of KSEB using their network. "It is estimated that by 2017-18 almost all government transactions will become IT-based. Thus, the right for basic internet facility will become a prerequisite for providing civic services universally through electronic medium," he said.

K-FON will be established in 18 months and Rs 1000 crore needed for the capital investment will be provided through KIIFB. This network can be made available to each house through KSEB. WiFi at government offices, public places, government libraries, FRIENDS Janaseva Kendras and Akshaya Centres was another initiative announced by Mr Isaac.