Why In News?
The Prime Minister inaugurated the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection (KLI – SOFC) project to resolve the slow internet speed problem in Lakshadweep.
What is Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection
Oblective: The project aims to increase the internet speed by over 100 times, from 1.7Gbps to 200Gbps. Improve faclitie like medical treatment, education, digital banking, government services, ease of living, ease of travel, and ease of doing business,
“Lakshadweep will play a strong role in the creation of a Viksit Bharat”.
- Funding: Total Rs 1072 crore funded by Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund.
- USO Fund was established with fundamental objective of providing access to “Basic” telecommunication services to people in remote and rural areas at affordable and reasonable prices.
- Project Execution Agency: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was nominated.
About Lakshadweep:
- It is an archipelago of 36 coral islands with an area of 32 sq km in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Kerala, India
- Only 10 islands are inhabited now. The easternmost island lies about 185 miles (300 km) from the coast of the state of Kerala.
- It is a Union Territory established in 1956.
- Capital: Kavaratti Island.
- Geography: The islands are made of coral reefs and green coconut groves.
- Culture: The population is predominantly Muslim, with fishing as the main occupation.
- Environment: The islands are a haven for endangered marine turtles, with nesting sites for green turtles and hawksbill turtles.
Other Major Development Initiative:
- First-ever battery-backed solar power project of Lakshadweep to address energy challenges.
- Ice Plant in Agatti: related to seafood processing and Tuna Fish export.
- Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) in all households: The saturation of tapped water connections to all houses in Agatti and Minicoy islands.