Bharti Airtel has announced that it will partner with the Government of Gujarat in the eGRAM Connectivity Infrastructure project. Under this project, Bharti Airtel will set-up telecom infrastructure to connect 13,716 village panchayats and Common Service Centres in the state.

Once connected, the panchayat offices/eGRAMs are expected to form a socio-economic network supporting information dissemination and facilitating e-governance initiatives in the state. The connectivity will also facilitate point to point and point to multipoint video conferencing services, VOIP services and both intra and Internet services from these village panchayats and Common Service Centres.

Commenting on this partnership, Manoj Kohli, president and CEO, Bharti Airtel said, "We are delighted to partner with the Govt. of Gujarat in its innovative and novel project of empowering its citizens. This partnership reiterates Airtel's endeavour to collaborate with the Government's e-governance plans and efforts to bridge the "digital divide" by providing connectivity to the rural masses."

Bharti Airtel has designed a VSAT-based solution to provide last mile connectivity to these villages. The project is expected to roll-out by March 2008.