Ensure continuous internet service to local, civic bodies

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has pulled up United Telecoms Limited (UTL), the private agency that Goa broadband network (GBBN), for poor internet connectivity at panchayats and urban local agencies. Sawant had demanded that the necessary steps be taken to “solve the problems” and to ensure uninterrupted internet connectivity at the 191 panchayats and 14 municipalities in the state.

Officials said the message from the prime minister’s office made internet connectivity much better as Prime Minister Narendra Modi dealt with Covid-19 fighters, vaccination staff, medical staff and panchayat officials.

After meeting Swayampurna Mitras on Aug. 7, Sawant had sent a letter to the Information and Technology Department (DoIT) on Aug. 10, targeting Internet connectivity.

“Necessary steps can be taken at the earliest to find out the reasons behind the poor quality of GBBN internet connectivity, resolve the issues and ensure that all 191 panchayats and 14 municipalities are equipped with uninterrupted high-speed broadband connection with power backup within 15 days,” Sawant said in his note to DoIT.

Interestingly, DoIT passed the directive on to UTL on September 1. DoIT sought a report on bandwidth usage and also asked the private company to improve the power supply in every village panchayat and municipality.

The government has already decided to leave GBBN because all installed and used equipment is “end of life, end of warranty” and thus needs to be completely replaced. Government sources said UTL has not invested in new infrastructure to improve IT connectivity in the state. RoxxCloud