VSNL commits internet super highway nodes by January 2000

In a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed for the year

1999-2000 between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Videsh Sanchar Nigam

Limited (VSNL), the latter has committed to establish and commission internet super

highway nodes by January 2000. These super highway nodes will consist of Internet Border

Gateway Exchanges and sophisticated facilities for multi-ISP operations in India. VSNL has

also committed to commission the SEA-ME-WE 3 Cable System with landing points at Kochi and

Mumbai by the end of July 1999.

Having rated the performance of VSNL excellent for the

previous year, DoT , according to the MoU, shall provide equal opportunity to VSNL to

participate in joint ventures to provide basic long distance and value added services.

VSNL shall have the freedom to decide on the choice of

transmission medium and to establish its own links for inter-connecting its gateways and

to earth stations. The VSNL shall also have the freedom to provide any value added

services or consultancy services either on its own or in association with parties, both

from India and abroad, after obtaining license and paying appropriate license fee to

DoT.

The MoU also awards VSNL a contract for establishment of

ATM Gateway Nodes located throughout India and converting VSNL's network to an ATM

transmission network capable of carrying multimedia services. Other important projects

which are committed to be completed by VSNL include a Network Management System by

February 2000, Video Uplinking facilities at Dehradun and Chennai and award of the earth

station and other equipment for the Hyderabad Gateway of VSNL.