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Madras Netizens get an exclusive digital exchange

T O D A Y

• The future is inorganic • Boon for Netizens • Xylan's India plans • VSNL to invest Rs 10 b

Initially, the exchange will provide 400 telephone lines that will substantially decongest Internet traffic.

At present about 600 lines are serving over 15,000 subscribers. This makes accessing the Internet very difficult during peak hours.

Sources at Chennai Telephone have been quoted as saying that 100 new lines have released already. Another 300 lines would be commissioned within a month.

Though the Internet exchange was proposed more than a year back, its installation was delayed due to various reasons. But once things fell in place, Chennai Telephones finished the installation in a short period.

The exchange, which has several modern features, would work as a remote switching unit of the R K Nagar exchange.

Engineers at R K Nagar would remotely carry out all operations. VSNL officials say that besides increasing the availability of lines, the exchange would help reduce fault rates.

However, there have been hiccups. Subscribers who tried the new numbers heard a recorded message that made them believe that the number they had dialled did not exist.

Meanwhile, in its effort to be more customer-friendly, Chennai Telephones is planning more modern facilities including 'calling line identification'. Subscribers provided with this facility can identify the caller's telephone number.

Subscribers who need this facility will have to attach a small digital equipment to their telephone. Approved equipment could be purchased from the market. The equipment will have a dial that will flash the number of the caller.

- Compiled from the Indian media

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