KFON Expands with OTT Services: Following Its Excellent Services with Internet, Aiming to Reach More Customers

The KFON project, initiated by the Kerala State Government, was designed to provide affordable, high-quality internet services to ordinary citizens and underserved communities. Now, it is set to expand by offering value-added services alongside internet connectivity. KFON aims to compete with other internet service providers and attract more customers.

The new OTT platform offering South Indian TV channels and movies at affordable prices is set to launch in April. The tender process related to the OTT services is in its final stage, and the next step for KFON is obtaining IPTV and VNO licenses. Additionally, KFON is working towards obtaining a license to provide internet services outside the state.

KFON’s internet services are now fully operational after completing 31,153 kilometers of fiber optic cables. The company holds an ISP license, an IP infrastructure license, and an NLD (National Long Distance) license. A state-of-the-art Network Operating Center (NOC) at Kochi Infopark serves as the core. From here, internet services are provided to various institutions and homes across Kerala via 375 KSEB sub-stations through Point of Presence (POP) centers.

This extensive network system includes 14 core POP centers, 94 ring aggregation networks, 186 pre-aggregationring networks, and 81 spur cable connection centers, through which KFON internet services are provided.

30,438 government institutions have been connected to KFON services to date. Despite some delays caused by national highway development work, 23,960 government offices have already received KFON connections. The remaining government institutions will be connected once the ongoing work is completed. The number of fiber-to-office connections is 2,275, and meanwhile, 5,237 families who are struggling economically have been provided with 53,906 commercial FTTH (Fiber to the Home) connections.

KFON’s project also includes monetization activities like dark fiber, fiber-to-the-home, and leased internet lines. In addition, 212 internet leased line connections for corporate and small & medium enterprises and 263 SME broadband connections are live. KFON has also provided 6,307 km of dark fiber commercially to seven customers. In total, KFON boasts 85,853 subscribers and 3,748 local network providers, working under specific agreements.

For the past one and a half years, all the offices in the Secretariat have been using KFON connections, and from June 2024, the Kerala Legislative Assembly has also switched to KFON connections. KFON has already started providing excellent services to various government departments and leading institutions in the health, education, industry, and finance sectors, as well as startups. KFON aims to complete over 250,000 connections by the end of 2025.

KFON guarantees international-quality services at affordable rates with a 99.9% availability rate. In case of any network interruptions, connectivity will be restored within a maximum of 4 hours. The service is on par with large-scale companies, and KFON has also provided a redundancy system to avoid disruptions. KFON’s network infrastructure is equipped to provide connectivity throughout the state, supported by top-notch facilities and skilled personnel.

The state government, through KFON, is providing free internet services to economically disadvantaged households. By leveraging CSR initiatives, KFON is actively working on its "Connecting the Unconnected" program, specifically targeting tribal regions across Kerala to provide them with high-speed internet connections. As part of this initiative, connectivity has already been provided to 103 families in Kottur (Trivandrum) and 300 families in Attapady (Palakkad). The goal is to extend internet access to other tribal areas of the state as well.