PANJIM: Over a month after schools have started with online classes, the broadband network in 241 educational institutions connected to the Goa Broadband Network (GBBN) has been found to be non-functional.
Sources said that out of 1533 extended GBBN locations that are government departments, corporations, schools, colleges, the network is working at 1292 locations. The service is not working across 241 locations which are mostly educational institutions.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
“The process is on to carry out rectification,” sources said, adding that the contract with the United Telecoms Limited (UTL) for GBBN, ended in July this year.
In the pandemic hit academic years, though the government has been looking at all options for education from online, to television classes through community radio, online education has not received the desired response due to poor internet connectivity in parts of the State.
GBBN is a state-wide network connection implemented by United Telecom Limited (UTL). The Goa government had tied up with UTL, a private agency, to implement GBBN, around ten years back.
Department of Information and Technology (DoIT) has now proposed to replace GBBN with the Centre’s Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BharatNet) across 1500 locations, including government departments, educational institutions and village panchayats.
The department has applied for Bharatnet funding to the tune of Rs 320 crore to Department of Telecom to increase the internet penetration in village via optical fiber network. Sources said that DoIT is still in discussion with the Centre for sanctioning BharatNet.
As part of various measures to ensure a smooth network, the State government is also planning to provide WiFi connectivity in remote village panchayat areas to provide uninterrupted and consistent internet connectivity.
During the recent Monsoon Session of the State Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant had informed the House that the government has already introduced WiFI connectivity for six village panchayats on a pilot basis through GBBN.
“The DoIT is in process of identifying locations for providing WiFi internet connectivity where there is no mobile coverage,” he had said.
To cope with the prevailing situation, the government has introduced helpdesk – 08767833497, 09390200100 – for government departments and educational institutions to facilitate day to day recording of the network related issued faced by the users.
