A 1,868 km submarine cable from Kochi, built for ₹1,072 crore, carries broadband to eleven Lakshadweep islands
Background
Lakshadweep's push for investment, e-governance and tourism rests on the link that replaced its satellite connection, and the Press Information Bureau release sets out its figures.
The Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fibre Connection, KLI-SOFC, was inaugurated at Kavaratti.
The project cost ₹1,072 crore plus taxes and the link runs 1,868 km.
Eleven islands are connected: Kavaratti, Agatti, Amini, Kadmat, Chetlet, Kalpeni, Minicoy, Androth, Kiltan, Bangaram and Bitra.
It was funded through the Universal Services Obligation Fund of the Department of Telecommunications and executed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, with NEC Corporation India Pvt Ltd selected as contractor through global open tendering.
The scope covered marine route survey, submarine cable laying, civil construction of cable landing stations and installation, testing and commissioning of end terminals.
High-speed service is delivered through fibre to the home and 5G and 4G mobile networks, and bandwidth is available to all telecom service providers.
In plain words
USOF Universal Services Obligation Fund — A fund of the Department of Telecommunications used to extend telecom service to areas that are not commercially attractive.
FTTH Fibre to the Home — Broadband delivered by taking the optical fibre right up to the subscriber's premises.