Tech trilogy: Reliance Info chalks out network plan
K YATISH RAJAWAT
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, DECEMBER 09, 2002 12:48:30 AM ]
MUMBAI: Reliance Infocomm, the IT arm of the Reliance Group, will use three different technologies for rolling out its network. Along with the fibre optic network, it will use CDMA technology for limited mobility services.
It is also using indigenously developed technology, corDECT, to roll out its network in rural areas. The company wants to provide broadband services irrespective of the technology it uses.
Reliance Infocomm has chosen the CDMA 2000 1x, which is capable of providing data speeds of close to 144 kbps, higher than those provided by current telecom service operators on their PSTN networks. The equipment vendor for the CDMA 2000 1x equipment is said to be Lucent Technologies, while the equipment used for its fibre optic network is said to be provided by Nortel Networks.
Even corDECT will be capable of providing data speed of 35-70 kbps. The company is using corDECT for rural areas, where it is difficult to rollout the physical network. According to officials, the company is not distinguishing between subscribers on the basis of which access technology they use to connect. Irrespective of the access technology — fibre, CDMA or corDECT — the services offered would be the same.
The standard CDMA 2000 1X is gaining popularity with wireless operators for third generation (3G) services. This is the first phase of the CDMA standard and will be followed by CDMA-1XEV-DO, which will support data rates up to 2 Mbits/sec on a dedicated data carrier, which is equivalent to fibre optic. The CDMA network will be used to connect the residential areas and help Reliance in controlling its rollout cost in areas where it has customers.
According to officials, Reliance Infocomm’s network will have a central network operating centre (NOC) in Vashi, near Mumbai. All the switching functions for the full network will be done from this NOC. The switching equipment contract for this NOC, which officials claim is the biggest in the world, is said to have gone to Ericsson. Reliance Infocomm is the first company in the world to roll out such a large geographical network using one NOC. The significance of a single NOC is that all services including billing, databases and customer relations can be managed centrally. This reduces the cost of network management substantially.
economictimes.indiatimes.com
==========
Reliance Info may emerge biggest corDECT user
K YATISH RAJAWAT
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, DECEMBER 09, 2002 01:48:24 AM ]
MUMBAI: Reliance Infocom will become the largest user of the indigenously developed corDECT technology, a wireless system that is far more robust and adapted to harsh environmental conditions than code division multiple access.
The company, which is building one of the biggest broadband network in the country, has decided to use corDECT in rural areas where it cannot get access with even CDMA technology.
Though Reliance Infocom’s investment in corDECT is not known, it is expected to give a boost to local manufacturers making equipment for this technology.
BSNL, MTNL, HFCL Infotel, Shyam Telelinks, and n-Logue communications now use corDECT covering about 100,000 lines. Another 1 million lines could be added over the next 12-15 months once Reliance Infocom inaugurates its service, officials from Midas Communications licensed to sell corDECT.
There are four manufacturers of this technology which was developed by the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras. These are Crompton Greaves at its Bangalore unit, Electronics Corporation, HFCL and Shyam Telecom.
All these manufacturers have supplied corDECT WLL systems to MTNL and BSNL Currently, there is a production capacity of around 3.6 lakh lines per year among these four manufacturers.
Each manufacturer can increase the capacity of corDECT WLL system by 1,000 lines per day with an additional investment of just over two crore.
economictimes.indiatimes.com |
