Cable and Wireless in alliance with VSNL

BANGALORE: Cable & Wireless plans to expand its Indian portfolio of services currently offered in alliance with Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (VSNL).

According to Cable & Wireless General Manager Global Service Programme (Asia-Pacific) Stephen J. McCue, the company has begun talks with VSNL to introduce managed international private leased line and managed voice solutions. Both services are targeted at large clients with data/voice traffic to warrant their own managed networks. Financial companies generally use a managed private line for data transmission, which typically has provision for limited voice transmission at the local level. While, voice solutions are dedicated to handling voice transmission. Managed private line services are currently permissible under law (being within the domain of VSNL), but a managed voice network may require clearance from Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

Currently, Cable & Wireless, provides select services as one of six collaborators of VSNL offering Globally Managed Data Service (GMDS). Others partnering VSNL include Global One, IBM, TMI, Equant and BT. GMDS addresses the specific challenge posed by increased connectivity between local area networks (LANs). Under the VSNL-Cable & Wireless tie-up, this service is offered with 'frame relay' as best solution. The tie-up also offers 'Secure Dial Service' (SDS), a global remote LAN access facility. However, a frame relay-based system in India is not allowed for voice communication.