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Technology Stocks : Satyam Infoway Ltd-(Nasdaq:SIFY) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mohan Marette who wrote (363)	12/10/1999 8:01:00 PM
From: Mohan Marette	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1471

ISPs free to use foreign satellites, Ku-band -Here comes private gateways Siddharth Zarabi & Sudipto Dey New Delhi, December 10: The Government has given private internet service providers (ISPs) the freedom to use foreign satellites and Ku-band for Internet connectivity. This will pave the way for ISPs to directly connect to the Net via satellite through their own gateways and also provide services through very small aperture terminals (V-Sats). Till now, all private ISPs could only use the gateways of Videsh Sanchar Nigam and department of telecom/MTNL for Internet connectivity. In another major decision, V-Sat operators have also been allowed to use Ku-band, in addition to existing C and extended-C band for their operations. Department of telecom services secretary PS Saran said, "From January 2000, private ISPs will be able to use any media of their choice like V-Sat or transponders on foreign satellites". Saran said the decision was taken after the Government recognised the massive bandwidth requirements. "We have adopted a more liberal approach on this account, which will lead to availability of additional transponders and reduce the acute lack of transponder space," he said. The Government, however, for the time being has not allowed international connectivity through V-Sats. A senior DoT official told The Financial Express that "this issue will be looked into later". The official said the department would hold a series of meetings with private V-Sat operators in the coming days to discuss the issue. Saran also said the cost of V-Sat equipment was also an issue that required consideration by the industry. "We should not let things hang further and the costs should be reduced", he said. The cost of V-Sat equipment has come down from around Rs 12 lakh and industry expects the price for Ku and Ka band terminals to drop belowthe Rs 100,000 mark in the near future. The Government go-ahead for using Ku band fulfills a long-standing demand of the V-Sat industry, which has faced sluggish growth on account of lack of transponders and high licecne fees. Meanwhile, the decision on freeing ISP connectivity norms paves the way for the setting up of private internet gateways by companies like Bharti BT Internet, Satyam, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd and Global Electronic Communication Systems. Nearly 20 companies have applied to the telecom department for permission to set up gateways. Amitabh Singhal, secretary Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) supported the Government's decision." We are very happy as the promises of the IT Task Force and the ISP policy have been realised", he said. Singhal added that the decision was even more welcome," as private ISP's will be able to bypass Videsh Sanchar Nigam and be free to choose the media-based on commercial considerations". He said the decision would also provide a fillip to the private Internet service provider industry in India."Of the 190-odd ISP licences issued till date, close to 60 have started operations," said Singhal, adding that a large number of service providers would start operations soon. expressindia.com