Panaji: The Goa government plans to lay a new Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) network across the state under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to enhance internet connectivity and ensure digital access to every household, State Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte informed the Assembly on Thursday.
Responding to a question raised by Independent MLA Dr. Chandrakant Shetye during the ongoing monsoon session, Khaunte in a written reply said the proposed network will form the backbone of the state’s “Har Ghar Fiber” initiative, which aims to deliver Fiber to the Home (FTTH) connections through the new infrastructure.
“The government is committed to providing affordable, high-speed internet connectivity to every household in Goa, enabling access to digital services in education, healthcare, e-governance, commerce and communication,” Khaunte said.
He added that the initiative is aligned with the national Digital India programme and is aimed at bridging the digital divide, particularly in underserved areas.
The proposed model will involve laying a fresh OFC backbone across the state through a PPP arrangement, while also leveraging existing infrastructure such as the Goa Broadband Network (GBBN) and BharatNet to avoid redundancy, the minister clarified through the written reply.
He said that the last-mile internet services will be delivered through licensed Internet Service Providers (ISPs), using shared or leased access to the network.
Khaunte said a phased rollout of the project is envisaged, with priority given to regions currently facing limited or no connectivity.
“Year-wise targets for implementation will be finalized following the tendering process and preparation of the execution roadmap,” the minister added.
