Reiterating the need for having optical fiber connectivity across the country, Kapil Sibal, union minister for communication and information technology on Thursday said that national optical fiber connectivity will empower the disempowered population and link them to the mainstream. He said that the last mile connectivity challenge could be addressed through wireless broadband and the 3G network. 

While delivering the key note address at ASSOCHAM international summit on e-governance in the Capital, Sibal said that the policy prescription, which would enable laying down the infrastructure, should be contextual and relate to development and the level of technological advancement of the region.

Citing an example of Sweden’s national broadband plan, Sibal stated, “Sweden has laid out optical fibre network across the country. But the government did not pay for it, but the industry. The private players were allowed to charge it from the subscribers (citizens), viewing the high per capita income of the country, that is $54,000.”The citizens in the Sub Saharan Africa region cannot pay for laying down the infrastructure, because they simply cannot afford it, he further added.

Underlining issues in making available public services on the electronic mode, he said that the data has to be digitsed and it should be interoperable.