Hughes to Set up 1,000 Rural ICT Kiosks

US-based software development major Hughes Network Systems will set up 1,000 rural information communication and technology (ICT) kiosks within the next three years in India, said Pradman P. Kaul, president and chief executive of the company here Friday.

"We will be setting up 1,000 kiosks in rural India over the two-three years time and our primary focus there would be education, teaching aides and rural banking," Kaul said on the sidelines of a conference - Satellite Broadband as an Enabler for Inclusive Growth - organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

He, however, did not mention how much the company is going to invest in this project. But he added the cost of building a satellite terminal in a village would cost about Rs.100,000.

"India remains a very strategic market for us and along with rural connectivity we are also focussing at the retail consumer segment to provide our satellite system," Kaul added.

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In the retail sector, the company is currently working with Reliance and it is also exploring opportunities for other potential partners in the segment.

Kaul said broadband satellite is a viable solution for India for popularising distant learning, adding, "India has 350 million ill-literates and the dropout rate is 87 percent. And broadband satellite is ideal for inclusive growth.

The company has signed an agreement with global IT giant Microsoft to offer various kinds of IT services in rural India.

Hughes Network Systems has so far invested over $300 million since its entry in India in 1992.