Context: Recently, the Union Cabinet gave its approval for Provision of Submarine Optical Fibre Cable connectivity between Mainland (Kochi) and Lakshadweep Islands (KLI Project).
About
The project, approved by the Union Cabinet, entails provision of a direct communication link through a dedicated submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) between Kochi and 11 islands of Lakshadweep they are:

• Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Agati, Amini, Androth, Minicoy, Bangaram, Bitra, Chetlat, Kiltan and Kadmat.

Implementation Strategy and Targets of KLI Project

• The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) has been nominated as Project Execution Agency and Telecommunications Consultant India Ltd. (TCIL) as the Technical Consultant of the Project.
• The estimated cost of implementation is about Rs 1,072 crore including operational expenses for 5 years. 
• The project would be funded by the Universal Service Obligation Fund and is expected to be completed by May 2023.

Significance

• The approval will vastly improve telecommunication facilities in the Lakshadweep Islands by providing large bandwidth.
• Telecommunication connectivity plays a vital role in employment generation.
• The project would play a vital role for the delivery of e-Governance services at the doorstep of citizens, potential development of fisheries, coconut-based industries and high-value tourism, educational development in terms of tele-education and healthcare in terms of telemedicine facilities.
• It will help in the establishment of numerous businesses, augment e-commerce activities and provide adequate support to educational institutes for knowledge sharing.

About Submarine Optical Fibre Cable Connectivity

• A submarine communications cable is a cable laid on the seabed between land-based stations to transmit telecommunication signals across stretches of ocean and sea.
• In August 2020, the government of India has inaugurated the submarine optical fibre cable (OFC) connecting Andaman and Nicobar to the rest of the country.

The inauguration of the submarine Optical Fibre Cable in Andaman and Nicobar Islands ensures:

• High-speed broadband connectivity,
• Fast and reliable mobile and landline telecom services,
• Big boost to the local economy,
• Delivery of e-governance, and
• Telemedicine and tele-education

Additional Information
Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)

• It is a statutory body under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003.
• Objective: To help fund projects to boost connectivity in rural areas.
• Ministry of Communications is the nodal ministry for the USOF.
• The money for this fund comes through a ‘Universal Access Levy,’ charged from the telecom operators on their Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) which are then deposited into the Consolidated Fund of India.

About Optical Fiber

• Fiber optics, or optical fiber, are long, thin strands of carefully drawn glass about the diameter of a human hair.
• These strands are arranged in bundles called optical cables.
• The optical fiber transmits data by light to a receiving end, where the light signal is decoded as data.
• Therefore, fiber optics is actually a transmission medium – a “pipe” to carry signals over long distances at very high speeds.

Also Read: https://abhipedia.abhimanu.com/Article/IAS/MjAyMDkz/Submarine-cable-connectivity-to-Andaman---Nicobar-Geography-IAS

Also Read: https://abhipedia.abhimanu.com/Article/IAS/MjQyNTU0/Lakshadweep-first-UT-to-become-100--organic-Geography-IAS