October 8, 2013

Bharat Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL) plans to fine companies that delay execution of the Rs. 21,000 crore national broadband venture that is already two years behind schedule due to poor coordination between implementing agencies.

BBNL, a special-purpose vehicle under the telecom department, has been tasked by the communications ministry to drive rollout of a countrywide broadband network for taking high-speed Internet to the hinterlands. Popularly known as the national fibre optic network or “NOFN” venture, it will be 100 per cent funded by Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF).

BBNL plans to tighten the rollout rules by including stiff penalty clauses after sector regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India recently urged the government to ensure compliance to stringent timelines for key USOF-funded projects like National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN).