CHENNAI: In a bid to make its ambitious 'internet connectivity to every household' scheme a reality, the state government on Monday announced that the state-run Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation would provide low-cost internet services, including Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). The state would also implement the Union government's BharatNet scheme, a high-speed digital highway , to link 12,524 village panchayats through optic fibre cables at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore.

On BharatNet scheme, chief minister J Jayalalithaa, in a statement in the assembly , said based on her request the Centre had approved the implementation of the broadband project through the state government. "With this, all 12,524 panchayats will be con nected through optic fibre cable and villagers can access all government schemes," Jayalalithaa said, adding that a separate entity, Tamil Nadu FibreNet Corporation , will be set up to execute the programme.

Jayalalithaa said Arasu Cable TV Corporation had already availed the internet service provider (ISP) licence from the Union ministry of communication and IT. The corporation had also entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with RailTel Corporation of India to pro vide broadband and internet services through the local cable operators in the state.

In the first phase, 552 cable operators have been roped in to provide internet connections. The corporation has a subscriber base of 70.52 lakh through 26,246 cable operators across the state, except Chennai.

"Arasu Cable TV Corporation will offer high-quality, low-cost internet services, with the village panchayats being linked under BharatNet scheme. IPTV services will al so be provided along with high-speed broadband and other internet services," Jayalalithaa said.

The number of internet connections in the state is expected to go up once the scheme is implemented. As of now there are around 20 million internet connections in the state, while Maharashtra tops the list with 38.78 million subscribers followed by Uttar Pradesh (22.90 million).

IPTV is a system through which television services are delivered using the internet protocol, instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial, satellite signal, and cable television formats.

The chief minister also announced that more than 300 schemes could be accessed through e-seva centres, in addition to government schemes during the current fiscal, which would cost the exchequer an additional Rs 10 crore. Currently , 10,034 centres are run by various government agencies, and facilitate the public to avail 36 government services, including certificates like income, community , nativity and financial assistance schemes for marriage and education.