Date:16/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/02/16/stories/2007021603020400.htm

Back Vihaan offers low cost network for rural areas

Thomas K. Thomas

Can support as low as 150 subscribers

Vihaan is wholly owned by the Shyam Group and has applied for global patents for its solution in India and UK. The product, launched at the 3GSM World Congress, has evoked keen interest.

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Barcelona, Feb. 15 After low cost handsets, it is now the turn of low cost GSM infrastructure for rural areas. Even as Indian telecom operators are gearing up for foraying into rural areas, here's an indigenously made low cost wireless communication solution developed by Rajiv Mehrotra-promoted Vihaan Networks. The GSM-based network designed specifically for rural areas supports as low as 150 subscribers and can go up to 15,000 subscribers. The cost of deploying this system is so low that operators can offer mobile services for as low as Rs 100 a month.

"The unique part of this GSM-based solution is that it brings wireless mobile communication to the rural areas at fixed line telephone tariffs. While the systems developed by big equipment manufacturers such as Ericsson and Nokia supports large number of subscribers in urban areas, Vihaan's end-to- end GSM infrastructure caters to areas where there are small number of users who cannot pay more than $3 a month for phone service," said Mr Rajiv Mehrotra, Chairman, Shyam Group. Vihaan is wholly owned by the Shyam Group and has applied for global patents for its solution in India and UK.

The network developed by Vihaan supports all the latest services and applications just like any large GSM infrastructure. The company launched the product at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona and has received expression of interest from a number of operators and other equipment vendors.

"While tele-density in most major cities across the world has crossed 50 per cent, penetration in rural areas is still below five per cent. It is from such regions that operators will be able to further derive subscriber and revenue growth. With the launch of this solution, Vihaan is strategically placed to partner with operators to help them reach millions of people," said Mr Mehrotra.

The equipment is designed for demanding physical conditions and is low on power consumption. It is also fully compatible with technologies such as GPRS and CAMEL. The product is also compact in size with mobile switching centre, base station in a single cabinet.

The product comes at a time when all the operators are looking for a cost effective solution for rolling out services in rural areas. The Government is also undertaking a Rs 4,000-crore rural coverage project that would create infrastructure in the villages.