On May 2015, the Government of AP stated that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu planned to complete the Optic Fiber Grid project – AP FiberNet – in three years, with Dusshera 2018 being the deadline. The idea is to provide broadband connectivity at a lower rate, ensuring advancement in sectors like education, agriculture, rural development and digital literacy. A 55,000 Km long optical fiber cable was prepared for this very purpose. Providing free connectivity to villages, educational institutions, hospitals and government institutions is the idea.
On March 17, 2016, the CM launched the first phase of the AP FibreNet project in Vizag. An MoU was signed with Cisco during the inauguration of the world’s first statewide broadband undertaking. As part of the Digital India campaign, the service will be available in Vizag, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram by April and the rest of the state by July. 15 Mbps connection will be available at a cost of Rs. 149 per month to 1.3 crore households and 100 Mbps at Rs. 999 per month to offices. The Rs 333 crore project is National Optic Fiber Network’s pilot undertaking. The network operation centre has been set up in Andhra University. The aerial network has been opted over underground cables to save on the cost.
