BSNL launches wireless broadband in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD, INDIA:Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), and SOMA Networks, Inc., a provider of WiMAX solutions, on Thursday announced the commercial launch of "BSNL Wireless Broadband" service in Gujarat.

BSNL has partnered with SOMA to deploy WiMAX service in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Andhra Pradesh,said a press release.

Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) is the first enterprise to benefit from this service in Gujarat.

GIDC would make this service available to industries housed in their estates, and would also use this service in their own administrative offices, it added.

"We are extremely pleased that the people of Gujarat are the first to benefit from this ambitious wireless broadband project," said, Satya Pal, chief general manager, BSNL Gujarat Telecom Circle.

He added that BSNL's service is not just for the urban elites, but would connect India's underserved population with the same high-quality broadband experience, but without the wait and without the wires.

"This commercial launch in Gujarat is a historic milestone in SOMA's operating partnership with BSNL, and a result of SOMA's technology integrated with BSNL's fibre backbone network," said, Yatish Pathak, founder and chief executive officer, SOMA Networks.

“We are greatly honoured to partner with BSNL, who provided us the opportunity to bring this technology benefit to the people of India. Over the next few weeks this service will be launched in the states of Goa and Andhra Pradesh, to be soon followed by Maharashtra," he added.

As a part of this operating partnership, SOMA has invested in the network rollout, and would manage the service on behalf of BSNL.

This service uses SOMA's FlexMAX system to wirelessly deliver broadband to the subscriber through a plug-and-play indoor device that allows seamless upgrades to future services, the release added.

The new BSNL Wireless Broadband service offers a range of service plans based on bandwidth rates, providing speeds from 256 kbps to 2 Mbps.

Residential plans include two email addresses and 5 MB of storage. Business plans include up to four email addresses, and 5 MB of storage, the release added.