Kerala Fibre Optical Network (KFON)

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• Kerala Fibre Optical Network (KFON)
• What is KFON?
• What was the need for KFON?

 

Why in news?

• The Kerala government has officially launched the Kerala Fibre Optical Network (KFON).
• Through KFON, Kerala aims to reduce the digital divide by ensuring high speed broadband internet access to all houses and government offices.
  • Kerala was the first state to declare the right to internet as a basic right.

 

Kerala Fibre Optical Network (KFON)

What is KFON?

• About
  • KFON is an optical fibre cable network of 30,000 kms, with 375 Points-of-Presence across Kerala.
  • The KFON infrastructure will be shared with all service providers, including cable operators.
    • Basically, KFON will act as an infrastructure provider.
    • While KFON will do the cable work for government offices, individual beneficiaries will have to depend on private, local internet service providers.
  • KFON promises an internet speed from 10 mbps to 10 Gbps. The quality of mobile phone calls is also expected to improve.
    • Once KFON is connected to mobile towers in Kerala, it will speed up transition to 4G and 5G.
• Aim
  • The project is aimed at ensuring universal Internet access and narrowing the digital divide, which has become especially acute after the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • For this it will create a core network infrastructure (information highway) with non-discriminatory access to all service providers.
• Stakeholders
  • KFON project is a joint venture of Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and Kerala State IIT Infrastructure Limited.
  • Implementation - by a consortium led by Central PSU Bharat Electronics Limited
  • Consultant – PriceWaterhouseCoopers
  • Operations and maintenance by Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd (KSITIL)
  • System integrator - Bharat Electronics (BEL)
  • Funding - The project is fully funded by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the state government agency for funding infrastructure projects.
• Beneficiaries
  • Through KFON Internet connections would be provided free of cost to 20 lakh below-poverty-line (BPL) families.
    • In the first stage of KFON, the government wants to provide connectivity to 30,000 government offices and 14,000 BPL families in the state.

 

What was the need for KFON?

• Existing TELCOS have only limited infrastructure in the rural areas
  • The telecom sector is dominated by private players.
  • The government is of the view that existing TELCOS have only limited infrastructure in the rural areas.
  • Their wireless connectivity infrastructure is providing only limited bandwidth.
  • Due to the low business potential in rural areas, private TELCOs are not keen to enhance connectivity infrastructure.
• Limited reach of Kerala State Wide Area Network (KSWAN)
  • The Kerala State Wide Area Network (KSWAN), the existing state Information Infrastructure connecting government offices, is limited to 3,800 premises.
  • Hence, the Government in 2017 decided to establish KFON, for efficient service delivery, assured Quality of Service, reliability, interoperability, and security.

 

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Q1) What is Kerala State Wide Area Network (KSWAN)?

Kerala State Wide Area Network (KSWAN) is a project implemented by the Government of Kerala, a state in India, to establish a robust and reliable communication network for connecting various government offices and departments across the state. KSWAN aims to enhance efficiency, coordination, and information exchange among government entities by providing a secure and dedicated network infrastructure.

 

Q2) What is Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)?

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is a state-owned aerospace and defense company in India. Established in 1954, BEL is one of the leading electronics companies in the country and is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka. BEL specializes in the design, development, manufacture, and supply of a wide range of defense electronics systems, products, and solutions. The company's product portfolio includes radars, sonars, communication systems, naval systems, electronic warfare systems, avionics, missile systems, C4I systems (Command, Control, Communication, Computers, and Intelligence), and other defense-related electronics equipment.

 

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Source: What is KFON, Kerala’s scheme for internet connectivity for all households | The Hindu