Thiruvananthapuram: Several government departments have sought the Chief Secretary’s approval to opt out of KFON, the state government's flagship internet connectivity project, citing persistent service issues.

The departments have raised concerns over frequent internet disruptions, inadequate speeds and delays in complaint resolution. In response, Chief Secretary A Jayathilak informed department secretaries that an alternative service provider could be considered, alongside KFON, for departments such as GST, Supplyco, Treasury and Registration, where uninterrupted internet access is essential.

KFON currently provides around one lakh internet connections across Kerala, including 24,000 connections to government offices. According to state policy, all government offices are mandated to use KFON services. Only in locations where KFON is unavailable are offices permitted to use private internet providers.

A key complaint is that KFON’s internet speed drops significantly when multiple users access the network simultaneously. Moreover, issues raised by the departments are reportedly not resolved in a timely manner. When the Chief Secretary asked for an explanation, the Director of the Kerala State IT Mission (KSITM) responded that government offices should register complaints via the KSITM web portal.

Disputes over internet billing
In addition to service-related issues, disputes have also arisen over unpaid internet bills. According to records submitted by KFON, it is due to receive ₹28.40 crore from various government departments for internet usage over the past 18 months. However, this figure has been contested by several departments.

To streamline the billing process, it has been decided that a consolidated bill will be issued for each department, replacing the current system of individual bills for each office. The bill will be addressed to the department head and will include usage details and corresponding charges for each office under the department.

It has also been agreed that departments will initially pay 75 per cent of the bill, with the remaining 25 per cent to be settled after proper verification. A final decision on payment structure will be taken only after due consultations with the Finance Department.