The Hindu Business Line : BSNL ties up with Novatium for broadband services

‘Thin client’ tech: (From right) Mr Kuldeep Goyal, Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL; Mr R.K. Agarwal, Director (Planning and New Services), BSNL; and Mr Alok Singh, CEO, Novatium Solutions, at the launch of ‘Bundling of BSNL Broadband with Thin Client Nova netPC’ , in Chennai on Friday. –

Our Bureau

Chennai, Jan. 2 Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, Chennai Telephones, has tied up with the Chennai-based Novatium Solutions Ltd to roll out broadband services with ‘thin client’ technology in the city.

The service called “Bundling of BSNL Broadband with Thin Client Nova Net PC” was launched by the BSNL Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Kuldeep Goyal. “This technology fills up the gap of non-availability of affordable devices to increase broadband penetration,” he told newspersons.

The new facility, available for Rs 2,999 plus monthly basic subscription of Rs 175, enables customers to avail themselves of BSNL’s broadband services utilising the Nova netPC comprising a set-top-box, keyboard and a mouse supplied by Novatium. The customer will be connected to the Novatium server to be located and maintained centrally at each city through BSNL’s broadband connectivity, he said.

In rural areas

Mr Goyal said BSNL plans to launch the new service in rural areas by the end of this fiscal.

Mr Alok Singh, CEO, Novatium, said the service was launched in Delhi last year through a tie-up with MTNL. This was followed by a launch in Mauritius. At present there are 5,000 customers in Delhi and 2,500 in Mauritius.

In Chennai, the company hopes to add around 1,000 customers in January and totally about 4,000 in three months.

The Nova netPC is easy to use - just switch it on and off. It is secure - no local storage, no local program. Besides, it offers total access user control as well as control over peripherals; central data storage; and low obsolescence (client device life of eight years). Upgrade is required only on the server side. Windows, Linux and multimedia support, Voice over Internet protocol and local printer are other features.

Thin client concept

The Nova netPC works on a ‘thin client’ concept. It is small box and does not contain any software or application. It is linked to a central server, which hosts all applications. The box does not have any configuration or processor. The central service has all the storage and guarantees data privacy through encryption.

A subscriber is offered a package that includes applications such as Word, Excel and Media Player. More applications can be had for additional payment.

Novatium was co-founded by Mr Ray Stata, Chairman of Analog Devices, Mr Rajesh Jain, Managing Director of Netcore Solutions and Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala of IIT-Madras.

3G rollout

Mr Goyal said the 3G rollout in Chennai could be this month end or in February. It was planned for Pongal, but is likely to be delayed by a few days, he said.

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