Sify plans to evolve iWays into e-stores

BANGALORE: Internet and enterprise services provider Sify Limited, said today that it plans to convert its iWay Internet browsing cafes into centers where users can avail of services such as ticketing. Recently, the company announced a tie-up with the Indian Railways to enable customers to book rail tickets online against cash payment.

Raju Vegesna, CEO and MD, Sify Ltd said that the company has started this initiative in Delhi at six centers and plans to expand this across many more centers. “The Indian Railways transports close to 5 billion passengers every year. Though the online reservation system was launched a few years back, it can be accessed by only those with access to the Internet and credit cards.” Sify hopes to offer airline ticketing services as well and envisages the iWays to evolve into cash collection points for those without credit cards.

On the initiative to promote gaming in the iWays, Vegesna said that Sify is in the process of doing this in stages by introducing “game dromes” in select centers in metros. So far, around 200 of Sify’s cyber cafes have gaming areas. Sify has more than 3500 Internet cafes across India and is adding around two-three new ones a day.

On the enterprise business side, Sify announced the operations of its third Indian data center in Bangalore that conforms to level 4 global data center standards. The company has invested Rs 32 crore into this data center. Its two other centers are located in Chennai and Mumbai. Sify has also signed up with Verseon, a US-based life sciences start-up to provide remote management services out of the data center. On the demand for remote infrastructure management services, Vegesna said, “Various calamities like floods are prompting enterprises like banks to have disaster recovery sites and redundancies in other cities. They also want to store customer information at the data centers.”

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