Microsoft Corporation and Hughes announced Sept. 28 a plan to roll out 5,000 broadband-enabled kiosks across India.

According to a published report from The Hindu newspaper, information and communications-technology kiosks will be deployed across 200 small towns and rural regions throughout the country to provide offering budding entrepreneurs to utilize the technology e-commerce, education and e-governance services.

The project is part of Microsoft’s Project Saksham, and the kiosks will be operated on a franchisee-based model.