India may double spending on Internet grid to 700b rupees

New Delhi

INDIA is considering doubling spending to 700 billion rupees (S$14.6 billion) on a high-speed Internet grid to connect villages across the country, Communications Minister Ravi Shan-kar Prasad said.

A committee appointed by the ministry has recommended raising the allocation for the National Optical Fibre Network to enable changes to the project, Mr Prasad said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have to approve the budget increase.