The Union Department of Telecommunications on Thursday provided approval for Infrastructure Provider (IP) category 1 licence to the Kerala Fibre Optic Network (KFON). According to a press release from the Chief Minister's Office, the Internet Service Provider license is also expected to be approved soon, after which KFON can start activating connections to the public as well as government offices.
The IP category 1 licence gives KFON the rights to acquire fibre optic lines (dark fibre), towers, duct space, network and other infrastructure facilities required for the setting up of an optic fibre network. It also has the right to lease out, rent out or sell these equipment to other providers.
Santhosh Babu, Managing Director, KFON told The Hindu that the company will be able to provide internet to consumers once it gets the ISP licence too, which is expected within two weeks. But, KFON will be taking a complementary approach, using the strength of private providers in areas where they are already present, and focus more on providing internet access to remote areas which are still not connected.
