TES: Cyber gateway to the world

PUNE, Sept 20: Software units in and around Pimpri-Chinchwad belt that have so far been confined to connectivity with USA, can now hope for a reprieve. In a move aimed at providing worldwide connectivity to software units located in this belt, the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) has taken over Talawade Earth Station, located around 20 kms from here, which was earlier owned by a non-resident Indian (NRI), to offer private lease lines. The Talawade Earth Station is now slated to become the international gateway by the end of March 1999.

Chief general manager K P Tiwari, who recently completed a month in his new assignment, is excited by opportunities Pune has to offer. He told The Indian Express that the earth station has so far been connected only to the USA. With increased availability of telephone lines speeding up internet connections, VSNL, which has touched a subscriber list of 5000 customers this month, is now offering internet on demand. The long distance of VSNL, in this case does not seem to act as a barrier in this case, with the Dighi facility receiving an average of 60 applications per day of which 75 per cent normally get a connection within hours.

Tiwari revealed that the earth station at Talwade will also serve the Software Technology Park at Hinjawade owing to the microwave links. VSNL is in the process of acquiring modern equipment to upgrade facilities available at Talawade, he said, adding that microwave links were expected to begin from March 1999.

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The government undertaking has also drawn up an ambtious plan to offer the entire range of Internet services on an all-India basis by connecting the internet node in Mumabi to the internet node in Europe through a submarine cable.

Henceforth, if there is a problem on the normal internet node, it will be backed by a microwave link which will directly join Arvi and Mumbai to offer a 100 per cent reliable circuit by the end of October. A repeater station will be set up at Kadus, which will be linked with Chikli, Giravali, Matheran and Mumbai and also through satellite from Arvi to avoid any kind of congestion on the internet routes.

A tower is presently being erected at Chandni Chowk near Paud to serve the needs of software exporters.

Tiwari observed that Pune was emerging as a major software centre with more than 60 software exporters.