NeST to invest Rs 3,000 cr for rapid IT application in Kerala
By Unveiling NeST Vision-20 | 18 Jan 2003
Kochi: The Washington-based NeST Group proposes to invest Rs 3,000 crore in Kerala in the next 10-15 years for the rapid application of information technology in every walk of life, thereby improving the quality of life of the people.
Unveiling NeST Vision-2020, company chairman Dr Javad K Hassan said the project expects to create 70,000 new jobs. Its first phase, to be completed in five years, alone would cost Rs 860 crore.
Hassan said the first and foremost endeavour would be to ensure broadband connectivity, linking towns and villages with a multimedia information network using the optical fibre backbone of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and other private companies.
The company proposes to deploy state-of-the-art broadband technologies like DSL to deliver high bandwidth up to 10 MB through the conventional copper cable without any additional digging or laying of cable.
NeST has invested over $50 million during the last two years for developing patented DSL technology by its US operation. The company is willing to bring this advanced technology to every village in Kerala enabling the people to have broadband access to information.
Hassan said broadband network could be used for developing telemedicine, e-governance, e-learning, entertainment industry, surveillance, business promotion and transport system. Apart from these IT-enabled services, broadband network could also be used for the development of other sectors like herbal medicine, biotechnology research, organic farming, IT parks and tourism infrastructure.