2016-07-21
Fiber-optic Internet network will be created in more than 2000 cities and villages - "State Program on Broadband Infrastructure Development in Georgia" will be approved during today's Cabinet session.
Program sets out specific steps, furthermore, according to the strategy adopted a few months ago the whole of the territory of Georgia was divided into several zones and in collaboration with the private sector, the various zones of interest were outlined.
"There is no way that this project will cross interests of private sector. On the contrary, it will assist private sector to enter the villages and towns according to the different zones of interest. In areas where lower degree of interest is expressed or there is no interest and the introduction of Internet is not economically beneficial, "Cartu Fund" will provide funding for the program. This is an absolute charitable activity, without any business interest. The program's estimated cost is about 100 million USD. This is true historic achievement, because access to the information is the main condition to create a free society. We think that it has a strategic importance for education, as well as, for the formation and development of civil society ", - Giorgi Kvirikashvili indicated.
The Prime Minister indicated that structuring the project that is as effective as possible in many areas in such a short period of time was possible.
The "Cartu Fund" as well as Innovation and Technology Agency of the Ministry of Economy jointly implement the project. The Agency has established a special company, a unit - Open net, through which a public-private partnership will take place.
"It is important that the network will be based on the principle of open access, which means that the main infrastructure constructed by us will have the technical compatibility - thus the business principle is that any provider that will subsequently be willing to join the main infrastructure will be allowed to do so. This project is a clear example of charity and the public-private partnership," - Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated.
Prime Minister's Press Office