The detailed project report (DPR) for the 3,000 km network, linking all district headquarters and large population centres, was prepared by I-Win, a joint venture company of ICICI Ltd and West Bengal Industrial Development Corp.

The project will serve over 60 per cent of the state's population, providing connectivity beyond the network of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). WBSEB had given I-Win the job of preparing a strategy plan for an optical fibre cable network along its distribution set-up.

Out of the 3,000 km backbone, 1,800 km will be fibre optic and the rest jelly-filled cables. The government can use this network for developing its own management information system (MIS), monitoring social projects and promoting education. The network will connect management schools, engineering colleges and medical schoolsto promote knowledge-based industry. The state has also proposed connectivity between corporates and educational institutions for joint research and development projects.

In some places, cables of the information highway will run parallel to the DoT network and also help promote another basic telephone service.

To implement the project, it is planned to form a company which will have a private sector partner, WBSEB, Webel and ICICI as stakeholders.