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Microland eyeing TV cables for ISP work

Even as Microland has met with success during a trial run in one of InCable's networks in Bombay, Intel, the microprocessor and chip manufacturer, is also contemplating launching the technology, enabling Internet services access via cable networks in India.

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Subroto Mukherjee, vice-president, marketing, Microland, has claimed that metros where the penetration of cables is reasonably good, all telephony can be bypassed for providing Internet services.

"The InCable network in Bombay alone has a subscriber base of 1.2 million,'' he said.

However, in the absence of any clear-cut policy guidelines, none of the cable operators can offer such Internet services.

The Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, the state-owned telecom giant, continues to be the sole Internet service provider as on date.

Microland, which has a strategic alliance with Bay Networks, the world leader in the networking business, is talking to multiple cable operators to educate them on the potential of such services.

Intel, which offers such services abroad, has plans to introduce its technology in the field in India too. When contacted, S Sivakumar, director, Intel Technology Centre, said that in India, where the number of telephone connections are far below the global average, two way transmission service is an alternative to increase Internet penetration.

Though Intel might not offer such services directly, it definitely looks forward to associating itself with networking firms aiding cable TV operators to become Internet service providers.

The equipment required for offering such services typically includes a 'cable modem' for connecting the cable to the computer and a splitter to separate the video and data signals coming via the cable for the television and the computer.

- Compiled from the Indian media

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