Education, Careers & Professional News
ISRO to bridge digital divide
Source
Deccan Herald
Date
2005-01-15
Information
The remotest of mountain villages will now be connected to the internet, thanks to an ambitious project by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). ISRO however looks to BSNL to providing the last mile of connectivity, right up to the houses.
ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair announced this project at the launch of the BSNL broadband service on Friday. He remarked that, while only satellites could provide the sort of reach required to connect far-flung regions, we cannot compete with the conventional systems to provide that last mile of connectivity. For this,the active support of the BSNL is required, he said.
Areas which are inaccessible for telephone lines are well within the reach of ISROs communication satellites. To receive these signals, however, a satellite receiver is required, which would involve investments above the paying capacity of most villagers.
This means that each village shall have one receiver set, from where BSNLs wireless (or wired) network will take over.
Mr Nair pointed out that such technology would be far more economical than laying out optic fibre to inaccessible places.
While most cities and many small towns are set to be connected with the BSNL broadband, over 6.95 lakh villages still remain unconnected.
He remarked that with satellite technology, remote places like Kargil and the north east were getting connected.
Even places with little electricity were not out of bounds with solar power coming to the rescue, he noted.