Govt to e-connect 25K colleges, 2K polytechnics

New Delhi: The government today cleared a proposal for providing connectivity to over 25,000 colleges and 2,000 polytechnics to help students get seamless access to e-content. As per the decision taken at a meeting of Union Cabinet, optical fibre technology-based cable will replace copper wire-based connectivity in universities where connectivity is already available. [caption id=“attachment_120830” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Interconnecting knowledge. Reuters”]  [/caption] The number of universities that will be provided with connectivity will also be raised from 419 to 572 under centrally sponsored schemes like National Mission on Education through information and communication technology and National Knowledge Network (NKN). According to a government statement, the estimated cost  involved in connecting the 2000 polytechnic will be Rs 13.50 crore per year. The cost for connecting the colleges was not immediately available. The National Informatics Centre will carry out a feasibility study for connecting all 25,000 plus colleges and polytechnics to NKN on optical fibre and bringing all colleges in the country under NKN, the statement said. These decisions, the statement said, will benefit about 572 universities, the 25,000 colleges and 2,000 polytechnics. “The ultimate target is to provide last mile connectivity and provide high quality e-content to be used with the connectivity being provided to the universities,” the statement added. PTI