NEW DELHI (India): The Indian Air Force has started the pilot demo on 17 sites of the optic fibre cable (OFC) network.
The pilot demo for 17 sites of the OFC network for Air Force links have started late last week. The OFC network, implemented by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has completed the installation work for the 17 sites.
Sources in the BSNL informed that the Air Force is carrying out the pilot demos of the sites.
However, the source informed that the project has been partly completed, as they are yet to roll out OFC in the remaining 150 sites.
“The OFC will be deployed in the sites once the Air Force provides us with the infrastructure. According to the project guidelines, the core network of BSNL would be utilised for providing the required bandwidth to 400 access points for the Air Force, Navy and the Army,” the source said.
The official source informed that they have not received any intimation from Army and Navy for building up the network.
“Currently we are being intimated to develop the network for Air Force,” the official informed.
The OFC project of Rs 1,000 crore has been taken up the Department of Telecom (DoT) and implemented by BSNL.
According to DoT, the first phase of the project will be completed by December 2007 and the will be fully completed by March 2009.
DoT official sources said that the entire process of trials and demos would take around six-nine months time.
It is likely that defence will release spectrum by the later part of 2009. Defence authorities have positively responded to the DoT’s call and given an in-principle nod to vacate spectrum used for 2G and 3G mobile services, once the alternate OFC network is fully operational.
© CyberMedia News
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