/vnd/media/agency_attachments/bGjnvN2ncYDdhj74yP9p.png)
Spectra Net
Selects Lucent Product
Spectra
Net Ltd, a start-up ISP, has selected Lucent’s Kenan software
products–Arbor/BP and Arbor/OM–to support its service
expansion. Lucent’s software will enable Spectra Net to
introduce innovative converged network services to its rapidly
growing subscriber base. The company initially plans to offer
high-speed Internet access, and will later expand its portfolio
to offer a full range of communication options including
broadband, data, and video services.
Spectra Net selected the
Arbor/BP solution based on its ability to support a variety of
services with little need for customization. Additionally, this
will allow Spectra Net to offer its customers the ease and
convenience of a single bill for multiple services.
DishnetDSL
Announces Unlimited Access Option
DishnetDSL
has joined the bandwagon of unlimited access option with its new
unlimited monthly access package at Rs 250. The company has also
announced another package, DishnetDial One-Year Freedom Plan,
which entails one-hour a day access at Rs 99 per month. Both are
applicable from 15 May 2000.
Hughes Moving the
ISP Way
Hughes
Tele.com India Ltd, a fixed line telephone service provider in
Goa and Maharashtra, is planning to acquire a portal firm as
part of its foray into the ISP business. The strategy behind the
proposed acquisition is to achieve a huge subscriber base within
a short time.
"We hope to unveil
the Internet services by August," says Prakash Bajpai,
president and CEO, Hughes Tele.com. The company is also planning
an IPO and is offering some shares to strategic investors
through a private placement. The company will raise about $150
million through private placement, which will be completed
within the next two months.
ITIL Plans ISP
Foray
Information
Technologies India Ltd (ITIL) has earmarked Rs 200 crore for
various expansion plans including ISP operations, developing
portals, and setting up software development centres.
To start with, it is
launching its ISP operations and setting up 20 portals for
e-commerce activities. ITIL recently got A-category licence for
Internet operations and will start its services by September
this year. The company will initially start with nine to 10
major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, and Kanpur and
later expand to other areas.
Paramount Jumps
into ISP Business
Paramount
Communications Ltd (PCL), one of the fastest growing telecom
cables manufacturers in the country, has got a national ISP
licence. As per the rollout plan, PCL will provide services in
Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad in next four months. In
the second phase cities like Calcutta, Pune, and Ahmedabad will
be covered.
PCL is setting up a plant
of optic fibre cables and will be able to use them for setting
up backbone for providing Internet services. The initial
investment in the project is expected to be approximately Rs 50
crore.
Gujarat Most
Preferred by ISPs
According
to an Internet survey done by IMRB, Gujarat has overtaken other
infotech savvy states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka as the
most preferred Internet destination for ISPs in the country.
Gujarat, which has about
40 ISPs, tops the list. Mumbai with 34 is followed by Bangalore
with 29 ISPs. Calcutta with about 13 and low Internet
penetration level has emerged as the least popular destination
among the top eight metros in the country. Ahmedabad and Delhi
come next with both housing as many as 28 ISPs. Hyderabad alias
"Cyberabad" is a poor fifth among the big eight metros
with 25 ISPs.
Unlimited Package
for Rs 299
Satyam
Infoway has responded to a host of free Internet services offers
by launching an unlimited Internet access package for Rs 299 per
month.
The services will be
available for both domestic and commercial users under the brand
name "Unltd" and can be downloaded from Satyam Online.
This package will offer unlimited access for 12 months. Current
users can renew their connection with "Unltd" at a
special price of Rs 3,588 for 12 months. The pack for commercial
users offers a renewal package at Rs 17,988 for 12 months for
existing subscribers.
VSNL’s
Net Base Increases by 100%
VSNL
appears to have benefited the most from the opening up of the
ISP sector. Its subscriber base has increased by 100 percent to
reach 3.44 lakh. While MTNL has 36,000 subscribers in Delhi and
Mumbai, the Department of Telecom Services (DTS) has 96,000
subscribers in its network.
Satyam Infoway is the largest ISP in the
private sector with a subscriber base of 1.51 lakh followed by
Chennai-based ISP Dishnet, which has a subscriber base of more
than 70,000.