K-FON free internet service in Kerala will reach 14,000 families in first phase; will complement existing telecom ecosystem, says its MD

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, which has declared the internet a basic right, is all set to launch K-FON, a government-owned internet service provider that will offer free broadband services to the poor and affordable internet connectivity to all others in the state. Talking to PTI ahead of the much-awaited launch of the project on June 5, K-FON MD and former IAS officer Santhosh Babu said the government aims to provide free broadband services to 20 lakh economically backward families in Kerala. K-Fon will complement the existing telecom ecosystem in the state.

As part of the initial phase, the Local Self Government Department has selected 14,000 households from the 140 Assembly constituencies in the state, to whom free internet services will be provided. Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON),