Major initiatives announced during Assembly session to boost last-mile connectivity, digital inclusion, and innovation in Goa
Porvorim, 30 July 2025: In a significant step towards enhancing Goa’s digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte today announced the rollout of Har Ghar Fiber along with the launch of a dedicated Drone Training & Testing Centre. The announcements were made during the ongoing Assembly session, outlining a vision to establish Goa as a digitally inclusive and future-ready state.
The Har Ghar Fiber initiative will ensure high-speed internet connectivity to every household across the state, beginning with pilot deployments in Porvorim, Sankhalim, and Bicholim. Complementing this initiative, four new Citizen Service Centres (CSCs) will be set up in Darbandora, Valpoi, Panjim, and Porvorim to improve grassroots access to digital public services.
Highlighting existing digital infrastructure, the Minister shared that under the Goa Broad Band Network (GBBN), 414 locations—including 189 Village Panchayats and 225 government offices—are already connected. Secure network coverage now extends to over 1,500 institutional offices across the state. In addition, 137 Wi-Fi hotspots are operational across all 40 constituencies, currently supporting over 52,000 active users, with a strategic focus on rural accessibility.
Digital service delivery has also seen robust expansion. The GoaOnline portal offers 247 services across 41 departments, with over 31 lakh transactions recorded and 8 lakh citizens benefitted. These services are also accessible via CSCs, ensuring equitable outreach in remote areas.
Shri Khaunte also emphasized the growth of Goa’s startup ecosystem. The state now boasts 759 registered startups under the Goa Startup Policy and DPIIT recognition. Through startup support schemes, over ₹4.10 crore has been disbursed, including funding of up to ₹10 lakhs each to 28 startups under the Seed Funding Scheme. Additionally, 18 IT units have been registered under the IT Policy, with ₹80 lakhs distributed in performance-based incentives to stimulate investment and job creation.
Looking ahead, the government plans to set up a Drone Design and Aero Centre at Quitol, envisioned as a sandbox environment for innovators to design, test, and deploy drone technology under controlled conditions.
As part of Goa’s digital inclusion agenda, the government continues to support merit-based access to technology through schemes such as Providing Free Laptops to Meritorious ST & SC Students and Empowering ST & SC Communities Using ICT Tools, offering free IT training at IT Knowledge Centres (ITKCs) across the state. A new proposal is also in place to extend free laptops to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and OBC students enrolled in engineering colleges in Goa.
“These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to digital empowerment, grassroots accessibility, and technological innovation,” said Shri Khaunte. “Our goal is to position Goa as a smart, inclusive, and future-focused digital state.”
About the Department of Information Technology, Goa:
The Department of IT, Electronics & Communications, Government of Goa, is focused on promoting digital infrastructure, innovation, and inclusive digital access across the state. Its initiatives span digital service delivery, startup incubation, IT skill training, and advanced technologies such as drone innovation and IoT.