TRAI has released a consultation paper to find ways and methods to increase broadband penetration in the country. The regulator has expressed its concerns about the fact that the country's broadband penetration is just 0.74 per cent in spite of 104 telecom service providers operating in the market. Moreover, net broadband additions per month in the country stand at 0.1-0.2 million compared to about 18 million mobile connection additions per month. As per the consultation paper, optical fibre should be laid to connect 375,000 villages having a population of 500 or more. Such a network would require laying of about 12 billion km of optical fibre at a cost of about Rs 323 billion. TRAI has suggested that the project could be funded by the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for non-skilled work, and from the Universal Service Obligation Fund for material and equipment.