DiviNet rolls out remote broadband access service

PUNE: DiviNet Access Technologies Ltd. has announced a new 'broadband access technology’ called Remote Access Metropolitan Network (RAMNet) that allows users to access Internet, television and telephony with single point connection through a gadget.

RAMNet is a unique network created to provide broadband access to homes and offices at an affordable cost. This also provides services based on digital video and audio, which supports a large number of simultaneous users. The company claimed that RAMNet provides a single point mechanism for a wide range of services through Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) that allows users to access all the services offered.

The CPE enables subscribers to get access to various broadband services such as video on demand, on-line chatting, SMS, email, online gaming and interactive online education. Addressing a press conference in Pune, BP Narayan, CEO and MD, Divinet said that the RAMNet technology is the result of three and half years of R&D by the former C-DAC team that worked on Param. The solution is now undergoing a beta phase trial covering an area of 130 km in the city of Pune connecting a few hundred users.

"This interactive broadband access will be available to users at the existing dial up costs with a projected pricing for users," he said, adding that the company proposes to operate city-level on-line services through strategic partnerships with a number of market operators. Furthermore, the venture envisages local city-level partnerships with shops, departmental stores, restaurants, hotels and cinema houses for utility service providers for enabling local-city e-commerce services.

The technology would be commercially launched in early January next year. PR Eknath, Chief technology Officer, Divinet, said that the technology would provide broadband access with speeds ranging from 64 kbps to 10 Mbps. The key point here is creation of a network that addresses convergence. "The network will be ready for mission critical business traffic. It can be directly connected to ISPs, thus eliminating the need for acquiring E1-R2 lines from Telcos, he explained. Divinet has so far invested Rs 100 million on the development and has further funding of $ 4-5 million.