HYDERABAD: More than 500 government schools in rural and interior Telangana have been connected to high-speed internet within 30 days.

The project is being implemented by Telangana Fiber Grid Corporation Limited (T-Fiber) following a Memorandum of Understanding with the School Education department to provide internet connectivity to 2,010 government schools.

Services are being extended as per tariffs notified under GO Ms No 9 of the ITE&C department.

Under Phase I, T-Fiber received a work order to connect schools in villages that were not covered by major telecom operators or internet service providers, officials said. After covering over 500 schools in the first month, the remaining 1,410 schools will be connected in phases.

The programme is part of a larger plan to extend connectivity to all 26,000 government schools in the state.

T-Fiber is also preparing a CSR-based model to invite donors to support internet connectivity for government schools. Under this model, a school can be connected at a cost of about Rs 66 per day.

Officials said the impact is visible in remote areas such as the MPPS school in Janakapur village of Asifabad mandal in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district, where students now have access to digital learning tools following the introduction of broadband services.

With internet access, government schools are using digital classrooms, learning management systems, online assessments and interactive content. Some schools have also begun exploring AI-based platforms such as ChatGPT and Perplexity for accessing curriculum-related content and improving digital literacy.

In Balanagar in Medak district, a government primary school that earlier depended on a single tablet with limited mobile connectivity now has broadband access, allowing teachers to use online videos and digital resources without interruptions.

T-Fiber has also extended connectivity to around 1,500 Rythu Vedikas, enabling farmers to interact online with agriculture officers and scientists, seek advice on crop issues and access scientific inputs.

T-Fiber Managing Director Venu Prasad Panneru said the initiatives aim to improve access to education and agricultural services through digital infrastructure.

The story is reported by Siddhardha Gattimi of The New Indian Express