40 kms from Bangalore and no Internet

Jyotsana. K

BANGALORE: Kuluvanhalli, a small village 40 kilometers away from the Silicon Valley of India is still deprived of Internet connection. Six years after Internet was launched in the country and four years after privatizing the sector, Internet connectivity is still a mirage for many in the country.

According to reports, tele-density has more than doubled from 2.3 per cent in 1999 to 4.8 per cent in 2002. The Indian telecom market size of over $8 billion currently has nearly 37 million basic telephone subscribers and 2 million Internet subscribers. Barely a decade ago, India had about five million telephone lines.

Internet is ‘Power’ for those who know and use it. Internet today is not just another means of communication but gives to its users many competitive advantages for individuals and businesses, alike. "Without Internet access a company is subjected to tremendous disadvantages ", said Anup Kumar Gupta, IT Manager, Fosroc Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. He feels handicapped without being able to be connected to his factory situated in Kuluvanhalli.

The company, started operations in 1998, has so far been unable to hook onto the Internet which they been trying consistently for the last 5 years. For Internet proliferation across the length and breadth of country, the privatization process of telecommunication allowed prospective operators to fabricate telecom networks.

Even after contacting BSNL as well as private companies like Bharti, Reliance, Spice, Fosroc hasn’t succeeded even for a point to point connectivity arresting the communication between the manufacturing unit and the corporate office which is situated at the heart of city.

An active intervention would be required to bridge the gap between the have and have-nots to facilitate the effort in bridging the digital divide. Currently, the company depends on V-Sat, which is a costly affair.

Moreover, the bandwidth doesn’t suffice their requirements. In the next three months, the company may get connected through BSNL. "Internet is possible, but reliability will still be a question", points Anup.

As long as the communication sector is considered strategically important, India will take many more years to compete with world standards. What is required is to have a common and open policy in providing Internet services.