It will improve tele-medicine, banking system, online trading, tourism and skill development

About six lakh villages will be connected through optical fibre cable network in the next 1,000 days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15, the Independence Day.

According to a report in The Financial Express, a submarine optical fibre cable network will also be extended to Lakshadweep Islands.

“In the next 1000 days, all villages in the country will be connected with optical fibre,” PM Modi announced.

PM Modi said that in the past five years, 1.5 lakh villages have already been connected through the optical fibre cable. He said that a road network and internet network are being built at present at an unprecedented speed. The peaks of the Himalayas are being connected to the islands of the Indian Ocean, The Financial Express quoted him saying.

According to an official release, efforts are being made to provide benefits of Digital India to the people which will in turn improve tele-medicine, banking system, online trading, tourism and skill development, the report said.

“OFC connectivity to the villages and submarine OFC to the Lakshadweep islands will help the people in rural areas/villages and those in Lakshadweep islands in getting cheaper and better connectivity and all benefits of Digital India,” it said.

As per The Financial Express, the Ministry of IT and Communications also tweeted about it calling it a game changer for India. IT and Communications Minister Ravishankar Prasad tweeted, “For high speed Internet services in Lakshadweep Islands PM @narendramodi Ji today set a target of 1000 days to provide submarine optical fibre connectivity to these islands. Like linking Andaman & Nicobar Islands @DoT_India will fast track this as well.”

PM Modi also announced that a policy on cyber security will also be unveiled soon to tackle threats related to cybersecurity.