CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -On 25 October 2011, the Government of India approved the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) initiative, later renamed as BharatNet, to connect all 250, 000 gram panchayats in the country covering nearly 625, 000 villages, by utilizing the existing optical fibre network and extending it to the gram panchayats.

Detailed explanation-2: -The BharatNet (formerly National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN)) has been one such digital plan of the Government of India that aims to digitally connect all of India’s villages and Gram Panchayats by broadband Internet connectivity.

Detailed explanation-3: -National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) is an ambitious initiative to trigger a broadband revolution in rural areas. NOFN was envisaged as an information super-highway through the creation of a robust middle-mile infrastructure for reaching broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats.

Detailed explanation-4: -BharatNet Project was originally launched in 2011 as the National Optical Fibre Network(NOFN) and renamed as Bharat-Net in 2015. It seeks to provide connectivity to 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) through optical fibre. It is a flagship mission implemented by Bharat Broadband Network Ltd. (BBNL).

Detailed explanation-5: -National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) was launched in October 2011 and was renamed as Bharat Net Project in 2015. The Ministry of Communications has launched the National Broadband Mission that will facilitate universal and equitable access to broadband services across the country, especially in rural and remote areas.