STL, a global data networks provider, has won an order — worth about Rs 1,800 crore — from Telangana Fiber Grid Corporation (T-Fiber) to set up high-speed rural broadband network.

STL will design, build and manage the network in 3,000 village panchayats in the state of Telangana, covering about 60 lakh people.

“STL was awarded a work order for about Rs 1,100 crore for Phase-1 of the project. The total project value is worth about Rs 1,800 crore for which STL has received the letter of intent,” an STL statement said.

The T-Fiber project is aimed at providing broadband connectivity up to the household level across the Telangana state by setting up optical fiber and network infrastructure.

“This turnkey project entails designing and building an end-to-end rural broadband network across 11 districts, covering 3,000 gram panchayats and managing the network for an additional seven years,” KS Rao, chief executive officer (Network Software and Services) of STL, said.

The broadband project envisages laying 64,000 km of OFC (Optical Fibre Cable) network, as well as deploying Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP MPLS), a routing technique and Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON).

“With T-Fiber project, we aim to provide broadband connectivity and digital services at an affordable tariff,” Sujai Karampuri, managing director of T-Fiber and director of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Telangana, said.