Latest news with #KFON
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
KFON hits new milestone: One lakh connections and counting
After a long wait, Kerala's homegrown broadband service, KFON, has achieved a significant milestone by crossing the 100,000 connection mark, with 1,00,098 users currently connected. The internet service provider aims to more than double this number to 300,000 connections by the end of the fiscal year and increase its total revenue from Rs 51 crore in the previous year to Rs 230 crore in the current fiscal. KFON Managing Director Dr. Santhosh Babu said, "Reaching one lakh connections is a significant milestone in our journey, and we are determined to continue our efforts until every household in Kerala is digitally connected." He emphasised that KFON is leading the way in fulfilling the Kerala government's commitment to ensuring no individual is excluded due to lack of internet access. Notably, KFON has provided 11,402 Below Poverty Line (BPL) connections, with 5,251 in Phase 1 and 6,150 in Phase 2.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Alappuzha sees surge in KFON connections
The Kerala Fibre Optic Network Ltd (KFON), State government's broadband Internet service, is witnessing an increase in connections in Alappuzha. In a statement issued here on Thursday, KFON said the promise of high-speed internet at affordable rates was drawing more people to the service. So far, 3,488 KFON connections have been provided in Alappuzha district. 'The project has laid 1,678.82 kms of cable in the district to date. This includes 155.47 kms of OPGW (Optical Ground Wire) cables laid through KSEB transmission towers and 1,523.352 kms of ADSS (All-dielectric self-supporting) cables laid along KSEB posts. Currently, 1,181 government offices in the district, including the Collectorate, are utilising the KFON network,' the statement reads. A total of 369 Below the Poverty Line (BPL) households in the district have been provided with KFON connections. Besides, 1,938 commercial connections have been established in the district through local operators. Twelve SME connections have also been provided in the district. Currently, 115 local network operators are collaborating with KFON in Alappuzha. New domestic connections can be registered through the 'Ente KFON' mobile app or the KFON website ( Registration can also be done by calling the toll-free number 18005704466.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
KFON set to roll out OTT packages for its customers
Kerala Fiber Optic Network Ltd (KFON), the Kerala government's broadband Internet service, is set to introduce OTT packages for customers, as it touches the 1 lakh customers landmark. The number of below poverty line (BPL) families being provided free internet is currently at 11,000. KFON managing director Santosh Babu told The Hindu that after a long-drawn-out tendering process, OTT aggregator Playbox has been chosen as the partner to roll out the various OTT platforms to the customers 'Currently, KFON is providing fibre and Wi-Fi internet services only. Adding more services will attract more customers. So, the plan is to provide a bouquet of services, of which the OTT packages will be a component. It will be offered as a separate package for KFON's existing subscriber base,' he said. KFON is also set to secure a Category A licence from the Department of Telecommunications, opening up the possibility of providing services in other States too. 'When banks or corporates which have their headquarters in other States call for tenders, most of them ask for ISP A licence as one of the requirements. We applied for the licence considering this requirement. As for starting operations outside the State, we would like to saturate the Kerala market before we enter other States,' said Mr. Babu. Under the project, a total of 14,000 BPL households, spread across the 140 Assembly constituencies, were supposed to receive connections in the first phase. However, the service providers were either unable to locate the families due to insufficient address details or unable to register them due to technical issues in several cases. In some cases, the beneficiaries had done the registration in the name of their children, while there was spelling mismatch in the names in the official documents and the list provided from the local body. Without accurate details in the Customer Acquisition Form (CAF), the registration failed during the verification process. To tide over this problem, KFON recently opened a portal for self-registration for BPL families ( using their ration card details. Those having pink and yellow cards can apply. The details are verified with the Civil Supplies department's database. After the opening of the portal, close to 5,000 more families have been provided free connections. KFON expects to provide connections to over 50,000 BPL families in the upcoming year when the State government's allocation of ₹60 crore in the 2025 Budget is transferred to it.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- The Hindu
KFON announces increase in data limit for BPL users
Kerala Fibre Optic Network (KFON) Limited, the State Government's initiative aimed at providing free high-speed internet to economically backward families in Kerala, has announced an increase in the data limit for Below the Poverty Line (BPL) category users. The free internet data limit, previously set at 1.5 GB per day at 20 MBPS, has now been enhanced to a monthly cap of 1,000 GB at 20 MBPS. So far, 8,099 free BPL KFON connections have been provided across Kerala, including remote tribal settlements and island regions where digital access remains a challenge. Eligible individuals in the BPL category can now apply for a free KFON connection online. Applications must be submitted through the link: along with the applicant's details and necessary documents. Applications should be made in the name of the ration card holder, and the required location can be accurately marked using the online map tool provided. For additional support, applicants can send a WhatsApp message with the text 'KFON BPL' to 9061604466, to receive step-by-step guidance through the platform. Applications will be accepted only through the online mode, and services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to areas where KFON connectivity is already active.
