The president of India inaugurates the Lakshadweep State Wide Area Network (SWAN) at Secretariat,
UT of Lakshadweep, Kavaratti.
(It will provide connectivity among all government departments and will be the base platform for e-Governance and all IT enabled services)

              The Lakshadweep State Wide Area Network (SWAN) has been inaugurated by her Excellency Smt. Prathibha Devi Sing Patil, Hon: President of India, at a glittering function held at Secretariat of UT of Lakshadweep, Kavaratti on 24th December 2009.

 The occasion was blessed with the presence of the Administrator of the U.T. of Lakshadweep, along with Her Excellency’s spouse, local Member of Parliament and all Heads of Departments of the administration besides public representatives. The Hon’ble President of India spoke with the Sub Divisional Officers of the islands of Agatti, Andrott and Minicoy , through the newly established video conferencing system.

This project of Department of Information Technology of the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology of Government of India under NeGP, on its launch, the geographically isolated ten islands of the UT of Lakshadweep stand digitally connected.
This project envisages connecting around 420 offices across Lakshadweep .This enables videoconferencing with the Sub Divisional Offices at all inhabited islands. The Public redressal is also one of the main advantages of this framework. The administration would be brought very close to the people with efficiency and transparency.
National Informatics Centre and the Lakshadweep Information Technology Services Society under the Department of Information Technology of the U.T. of Lakshadweep are the implementing agency of this mammoth project.

The excerpts of her Excellency’s speech “The development of island territories requires a strategy that provides good connectivity between islands as also with the mainland. Ship, boat and air services are essential for connectivity and all efforts must be made to develop regular and effective transport linkages. However, in today's age, ICT is an effective tool of communication. I am glad that the State Wide Area Network known as SWAN has been implemented in the islands to provide connectivity between the various Government departments. It will be a platform for e-governance and other IT enabled services.
Even more significant would be SWAN's ability of ensuring a communication channel for disaster management, in case such needs arise. I am sure that as this Project begins operation today, it shall help in the improvement of education, health awareness, providing information about the weather, entertainment and news delivery services. I am, therefore, happy to be inaugurating the SWAN Project. I hope that as the bandwidth is increased, internet facilities will be extended to the people for their business and personal use”.