Microsoft and Hughes have decided to set up 5,000 Kiosks in 200 small towns and rural regions.Satellite will be to provide broadband connectivity to kiosks. This is the first time that any company is planning VSAT-based broadband kiosks in rural areas in India on a large scale.
“The kiosks will be operated on a franchisee-based model offering budding entrepreneurs across the rural area for e-commerce,education and e-governance,”Hughes Network Systems(India) president and CEO Pranav Roach said.
In this project Hughes is providing VSAT-based connectivity for th broadband kiosks.It will also offer comprehensive business model for the entrepreneures.It will offer both B2B AND B2C services.
The kiosks will act like a business hub in the area.Microsoft role will be limited to its its platform and expertise in IT.Microsoft (India) head rural computing strategy Tarun Malik said, “Presently there
is poor connectivity in rural areas.Therfore we have decided to go for satellite connectivity.We would also offer services such as telemedicine,”.
