BSNL plans to provide convergent 
media services

DH News Service KOLKATA, Oct 1

Even before the Convergence Bill has been placed, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is embarking on a unique pilot project in Kolkata for the first time in India to offer internet, video on demand and cable TV on the same copper wire that provides the telephony, Chief General Manager(Telephones), BSNL, Kolkata S P Chakraborty said today.

Stating that the work of the project would begin sometime middle of this month on a trial basis, Mr Chakraborty disclosed that the “new convergence” would be based on Asymetric Digital Subscriber Line(ASDL) technology and once the field trial that would continue for sometime, proves successful, the facility would be extended to other metros very soon.

BSNL, Kolkata,which has already started Voice over IP(Internet Protocol) in six cities namely, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Kolkata, through its node network on a trial basis for few months now, claimed that the subscribers while making STD calls to these destinations, have already been receiving benefits though STD charges have remained unaltered.

In addition to this, BSNL will be introducing another unique facility — DIAS (Direct Internet Access Service) — to its exisiting telephone subscribers in the city from October 3. Mr Chakraborty pointed out that DIAS would faciliate access to internet over the existing telephone line without any local call charge and a subscriber can talk or receive calls while on the net.

“The technology separates the telephone call and internet at the local exchange whereby a person can avail both the facilities. However, if he decides not to use the phone while on the net, he would be provided with 128 kbp speed in the internet,” Mr Chakraborty explained.

For this a subscriber will have to dish out a monthly rental of Rs 1,800 over and above the normal bi-monthly telephone charges.