Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd and Hughes India have partnered on rolling out 5,000 broadband-enabled ICT rural kiosks across the country.
The ICT kiosks will be deployed across 200 small towns and rural regions. These will be operated on a franchisee-based model. These will offer budding entrepreneurs across the rural landscape to use technology for e-Commerce, education and e-Governance. The ICT kiosks will not only provide a platform for exchange of information and knowledge, but also will serve as a platform to create over 15,000 jobs and self- employment opportunities as stated by Pranav Roach, president and CEO, Hughes Network Systems India. Hughes will provide a comprehensive business model to enable successful kiosk penetration in rural India offering B2B and B2C services. Microsoft under its ‘Saksham’ initiative will create an engagement model with kiosks service providers and various governments for delivering e-Government and other B2B services.
