• Investment World
• eWorld
• Brand Line
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest
• The New Manager

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources
• In Focus
• In Depth

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• The Hindu ePaper
• Business Line
• Business Line ePaper
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Thomas K. Thomas

Move could usher cheaper Internet, long distance calls

New Delhi , Nov. 23

In a significant move that could usher in cheaper Internet and long distance calls, Tata managed Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) has decided to give access at its submarine cable landing stations in Mumbai, Chennai and Ernakulam to all operators on a non discriminatory manner.

The move comes after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) urged the Government to take steps that would ensure competition in the international bandwidth segment. VSNL was also under pressure from the industry for opening up the landing rights. VSNL was criticised for allegedly stifling competition in the international telephony segment by allowing limited access to its landing station.

The VSNL move will benefit ISP and leased line operators who will pass on the cost savings to the consumers.

"VSNL's terms are in line with the recommendations of TRAI that were released last year. TRAI had suggested that all cable station operators issue standard terms for access at their facilities. VSNL is the first and only operator to propose its standard terms, including charges, are in line with TRAI's guidance," said a VSNL official.

Eight submarine cables land in India today, with over 18 terabits of design capacity and over 1 terabit of lit capacity. At least 5 other cable systems are likely to land in India in the next couple of years. Indian operators will be connected to cable capacities at VSNL's landing stations in about 15 days from the date of signing an access facilitation agreement. VSNL is also setting up meet-me-rooms in Mumbai, Chennai and Ernakulam to consolidate its access and interconnection facilities; this will provide Indian operators with better access, lower costs, improved security and efficient support, said a VSNL source.

More Stories on : ISPs | Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Intelenet Global delivery centre

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line