As the government strives to meet its target of setting up 1,00,000 broadband kiosks along with private sector partners, software giant Microsoft Corp and technology major Hughes said on Thursday they will set up 5,000 such kiosks in 200 small towns and villages across the country on their own.

The kiosks will be run by franchises that will offer e-commerce, education and e-governance through the Internet. The two companies will co-brand these kiosks.

“The IT kiosks will provide a platform for the exchange of information and knowledge and serve to create over 15,000 jobs and self employment opportunities,” said Pranav Roach, president and CEO, Hughes Network Systems, India.

Hughes will leverage its satellite broadband platform to allow Internet-based services like broadband connectivity, international voice calling and education services in rural areas.

Microsoft will run this project under its ‘Saksham’ initiative, which will offer a 12-day IT literacy programme to the kiosk operators, for free.

Rohit Kumar, country head-public sector, Microsoft, said, “This partnership is a step towards our overall objective of providing a holistic ecosystem under ‘Project Saksham’ at the ground level and enable the rural ecosystem.”