The Uttar Pradesh government signed a memorandum of understanding with OneOTT Intertainment Ltd, a subsidiary of the Hinduja Group, to expand high-speed broadband across the state under Project Ganga. The agreement, inked by the State Transformation Commission and OneOTT Intertainment Ltd, is intended to provide high-speed internet to two million (mn) households in two to three years and to extend digital services into rural areas.

The initiative is expected to generate more than 0.1 mn direct and indirect employment opportunities and to train between 8,000 and 10,000 local youths as digital service providers at the Nyaya Panchayat level. The plan reserves 50 per cent of training and service positions for women to promote inclusion. Officials indicated that the scheme will create roles in deployment, maintenance and local digital support and will stimulate small-scale digital enterprises.

The state finance minister said that the agreement represented a major step towards strengthening digital infrastructure and employment generation and that the project would benefit 10 million (mn) people. He noted that under a scheme launched in January 2024 interest- and collateral-free loans of up to Rs 0.5 mn are being provided to young entrepreneurs, and that about 0.1 mn beneficiaries have already availed the facility. Improved connectivity is expected to support online business, education and healthcare.

The chief executive of the State Transformation Commission described digital infrastructure as critical to development and said the project would bridge the digital divide by delivering broadband and over-the-top services to villages, enabling telemedicine, e-commerce, online education, digital skilling and content creation. Expansion into border districts such as Shravasti, Bahraich and Balrampur is expected to boost economic activity in underserved areas. Officials from the commission, the labour department and the Hinduja Group attended the signing.