<h1>16 Indian States Sign Agreements for Digital Highways to Connect 250,000 Gram Panchayats with High-Speed Internet.</h1> Sixteen states and union territories in India have signed agreements to lay digital highways under the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), aiming to connect 250,000 Gram Panchayats with Optical Fibre Cable within two years. This initiative, funded by the Universal Service Obligation Fund and executed by Bharat Broadband Network Limited, will provide a minimum bandwidth of 100 Mbps to each Gram Panchayat. The project is expected to enhance access to public services, boost e-governance, and create local employment opportunities, contributing to economic growth and prosperity in rural areas.