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Thursday, May 24, 2007
Bhaskar Hazarika
NEW DELHI: The Indian telecom service providers are on the race to join the Wi-Fi Alliance, following the IT companies.
Frank Hanzlik, managing director, Wi-Fi Alliance, informed that currently not a single Indian service provider is part of the Alliance, but have received expression of interest from them.
He said that apart from the IT companies some of the global giant telecom service providers are members of the Alliance. “Around 15 global service providers like British Telecom, AT&T, Korean Telecom are members of this Alliance. But no Indian service provider is a part of the Alliance. But I do have at least one who has expressed an interest in membership,” Hanzlik said.
Hanzlik was in Goa last week to attend the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) event. During his visit senior officials from Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) had a meeting with him.
However, Hanzlik denied divulging the information on it. But it was learnt that Tata Group VSNL has expressed interest in the membership of the Alliance. The company had last week announced its plans to enhance its Wi-Fi hotspots network from the current 250 to 1000 within this year.
The WBA, a global consortium of Network Wi-Fi service providers, has also invited VSNL to join its executive committee board, which currently has worldwide participation of global telecommunication leaders. VSNL is offering its Wi-Fi hotspots service in major domestic and international airports, star hotels, educational institutions, sports stadium, hospitals, chain of restaurants and coffee shops in India.
Hanzlik, however, said, “As part of our market development efforts in country, we are hopeful that we will continue to add new members from India including silicon developers, product manufacturers, and service providers.”
© CyberMedia News
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