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Strategies & Market Trends : India Coffee House -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mohan Marette who wrote (4054)	4/17/1999 2:44:00 PM
From: Mohan Marette	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12475

UK's Worldtel Offers To Develop India's Net Infrastructure By A. Nair world-tel.com world-tel.com InternetNews India Correspondent [April 13, 1999--MUMBAI] The UK-based telecom giant Worldtel has proposed signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Maharashtra government to develop Internet infrastructure. "The $100 million project, which would provide Internet backbone for local language and content, was proposed at a meeting in Mumbai with Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane, the state's finance minister, planning board chief and top officials," Worldtel chief executive officer (CEO) and former chairman of Indian Telecom Commission, Sam Pitroda said. Pitroda pointed out that the Maharashtra government would be expected to take an equity in the project which envisages setting up Internet community centers enabling people to access information on various matters such as land records and birth certificates directly without having to approach the official agencies. The Maharashtra state government in association with Worldtel, a company originally set up by International Telecom Union, will develop Internet community centers along with Standard Trunk Dialing-Public Call Operator booths. Another round of discussions is expected next week when the Maharashtra state government responds to the proposal. Pitroda pointed out that the MOU signed will give a two-pronged thrust on providing Internet services at affordable costs and provide jobs to unemployed educated youths. Worldtel has already entered into a Rs 400 crore ($93.9 million) joint venture with the Gujarat government for setting up comprehensive modern information communication network and had recently singed an agreement with the Tamil Nadu government for establishing 1,000 Internet community centers each having 20 terminals. Pitroda added that WorldTel was holding discussions with leading industrial groups for setting up a joint venture. "We are discussing with big groups who have the financial muscle and a professional working atmosphere," he said. The company has signed agreements with the governments of six states - Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh - for setting up Internet infrastructure including an optical fiber-based network and providing Internet services. As per the arrangement, the state government-owned companies will hold up to 26 per cent equity in the venture, while the rest 74 per cent will be equally distributed between WorldTel and the third partner. While WorldTel was planning to have different partners for its projects in different states, now it has decided to have a single private partner for all the projects. "After a long debate we have come to the conclusion that it will be easy to work with a single partner," said Pitroda. It is learnt that four more states - Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan - have approached WorldTel for Internet projects. Pitroda, identified with India's telecom revolution about a decade ago, plans to set up Internet community centers throughout the country in line with the STD-PCO booths, which was his brainchild when he was the Telecom Commission chairman. "The idea is to spread the use of Internet by establishing an optical fiber-based network and Internet community centers throughout the country," said Pitroda. The company plans to develop the contents in local languages which is essential for the diffusion of Internet applications. "Internet is ideally suited for state-level applications and can be adapted to local languages. All government functions, including ration cards, police reports, health and community requirements can be addressed through this facility," said Pitroda. asia.internet.com