To bring broadband connection to over 30 million people in rural and peri-urban areas throughout India, the United States Trade and Development Agency is planning to award a grant to an internet service provider.

According to the USTDA, initiatives like these may revitalize neighborhoods and promote more inclusive economic growth.

To increase broadband connectivity to more than 30 million people in rural and peri-urban areas across India, it was said that the grant would be utilized to carry out a feasibility study.

But the grant's sum wasn't made public.

"Projects such as this can transform communities and stimulate more inclusive economic growth. AirJaldi's vision to provide reliable and affordable internet access to the underserved is one that USTDA is proud to share," says USTDA director Enoh T. Ebong.

The study is said to assess the technical and financial feasibility of expanding AirJaldi's broadband network to new rural and peri-urban areas, according to USTDA. It will also model sustainable business cases and scenarios for providing customers in these markets with affordable connectivity and value-added digital services.

In addition to designing network architecture, assessing technology options, providing a financing plan, and assessing other crucial areas that will be required for the project's implementation, the study will identify and prioritize infrastructure investments for AirJaldi to expand broadband connectivity across 16 Indian states.

"The provision of fast and reliable connectivity to underserved yet well-deserving communities in rural and semi-rural areas in India remains a challenge despite the great progress made in the past few years by multiple providers and partners across India, us included," says AirJaldi director Michael Ginguld.

The project advances the priorities of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework with the goal of developing, expanding, and deploying secure digital infrastructure to power economic growth and facilitate open digital societies.

"Maintaining the drive to realize universal access to fast, stable and economically and socially beneficial connectivity throughout the country requires considerable financial and human resources," adds Ginguld.