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Inaugurating
the Convergence India 2001 International Exhibition and Conference Mr.
Prasad said “the real bottleneck to the success of broadband as a road
to convergence lies with the capability of the service provider to replace
the current copper last mile with fibre-to-home (FTH), digital subscriber
line (DSL), asynchronous DSL (ADSL) and hybrid coaxial cable (HFC).” He
said that unless any of these technologies were adopted in providing
the last mile for broadband access in the convergence regime, the purpose
of unified and interactive communication would be destroyed. Speaking
on the occasion Mr. R.N. Goyal, Member (Production), Telecom Commission
said players in the broadband and convergence arena should develop a
strong research and development (R&D) base, which would help them
to be in touch with cutting edge technologies. “Besides
a strong R&D base, companies should try to build up manufacturing
bases for making the next generation products”, Goyal said adding the
lack of it would leave India behind its competitors. Goyal cautioned
the service providers against the major shakeout awaiting which would
see many mergers and acquisitions. Commenting
on the quality of services, Mr. Goyal said that while prices are brought
down to a realistic level in the shake out, operators would have to
improve their content and services with state-of-the-art products. He
asked Railways and Powergrid Corporation of India (PGCIL), which are
entering the telecom sector to provide access services to re-strategise
their business, plans and revenue models as prices were coming down
drastically. In
his remarks Bill Cowper, Director (Telecommunications) Sun Microsystems
said as India approached towards a convergence system, service providers
should work jointly with the government. Mr.
Cowper said India was faced with the biggest problem of lack of wired
access, which presented a very poor telecom network and infrastructure.
But, he said that this could well be turned into a big opportunity. Last
Mile - the Real Challenge The
DVB Project is the most successful specification body of its kind.
It was created in 1993 at the eve of the market launch of digital
broadcasting. The DVB project
accounts for more than 290 member companies including content and service
providers, manufacturers, network operators, middleware providers, regulation
authorities, etc. Its success
is based on the convergence of interest of its various members to build
consensus upon the systems and technologies needed for a competitive
open market for broadcasting, and also the Internet. Jean-Pierre
Evian, Senior Engineer, European Broadcasting Union spoke of the key
standards being introduced in the recent years, such as DVB-S for digital
satellite broadcasting, DVB-C for digital cable distribution, and DVB-T
for digital terrestrial broadcasting.
These specifications demonstrate the clear DVB understanding
of the changes and growth of the digital multimedia framework.
A market survey shows that these technologies appear as de-facto
worldwide standards. Convergence
on transmission technologies being successfully achieved, the DVB project
identified the need to support convergence for applications and services,
both horizontal and vertical businesses, in a horizontal market.
Consumer-centric market requirements have led to the definition
of the Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) including the consumer receiver,
i.e. a set-top-box or an integrated digital TV-set, its peripherals
and the In-Home Digital Network (IHDN).
This work started at the end of 1997 and has been continued with
an aggressive schedule to tackle the difficult issue of the Application
Programming Interface (API). Two
specifications have been produced.
MHP 1.0 is Java-based.
It supports enhanced and interactive broadcast and has been published
as an ETSI Technical Specification.
MHP1.1 is XHTML - DVB
has developed a new vision for an extended DVB mission in the new Millennium.
This plan takes into account the evolution of technology that
will soon create new opportunities for innovative services.
Broadband delivery, mobility, digital mass storage and new modes
of content consumption (among others) have been duly incorporated into
the DVB strategy. Several
activities have already started, in particular on broadband IP and UMTS
delivery, copyright protection and management.
Close collaboration with specification groups such as the UMTS
and TV-Anytime forums has been set-up in order to develop a seamless
multimedia framework for transparent access to content.
DVB
has taken the necessary steps to allow its membership to adapt to this
new mission. Originally
Europe-centric, DVB is now international as a natural evolution due
to the wide acceptance of its specifications and standards around the
world. Considering DVB
as a solution is not only a matter of selecting performing and reliable
technology, it is also a unique chance to participate in the development
of a user-friendly digital information society. In
this respect DVB MHP will serve to unify the marketplace for interactive
TV programming a marketplace
where the opportunities have only begun to be realised. It
is very easy to join this international effort for standardisation and
a simple first step will consist of visiting the DVB websites (www.dvb.org
or www.mhp.org) or contacting the DVB
Project Office (Contact: Anthony Smith, smith@dvb.org). RB
Comtec, an established name in the field of data communication and transmission
products unveils soft ware solutions for the wireline
and wireless operators. X-PLOR
TELECOM- QUALITY OF SERVICE AND REVENUE ASSURANCE Telecom
has witnessed unprecedented growth in India in the last couple of years,
bringing with it the complexities of managing, effectively, an ever-growing
customer based with an ever increasing appetite for quality of service.
To deliver the optimum product to the end user, it is imperative for
any network operator to evaluate and interlink three basic aspects of
’Quality Of Service’, ’Network Performance’ and ’Financial Controls’.
Delivery of the ’best’ entails constant and efficient evaluation of
interrelationships between these three key areas. This is important
from the customers’ point of view as well as from the point of view
of the service providers. The
X-Plor Autonomous Network Testing Systems (ANT’s) represents a new area
in network testing and evaluation for both cellular and fixed networks. The
unique X-Plor ANT’s are deployed throughout the network and act as electronic
customers who experience every aspect of network operation and service
and at the same time collect and record vital data, in an accurate manner,
on each of these aspects. This way “Quality of Service” is maintained
to the hilt. However,
providing quality service and impeccable network performance is not
sufficient to remain competitive. It is currently estimated that up
to six percent of all billable minutes are either not billed or billed
incorrectly. By putting an efficient and a successful revenue assurance
system in place, “Revenue Assurance”becomes a keyword in all areas of
operation including sales/marketing,
product development, customer care, provisioning, billing, information
system, accounting and finance. X-Plor Revenue Assurance is designed
for the early identification
and correction of billing errors before it affects the customer or the
network. It ensures accurate and valid billing and also that all revenue
transactions are completed and posted accurately. X-Plor Revenue Assurance
ensures that selling the incredibly complex product of telecommunications
is efficiently tracked and billed for. Results are immediately visible
on your bottom line. IMCS
Software Solutions Israel
based telco solutions provider. IMCS is backed by two leading parent
companies. “Flagadcom”, a conglomerate of active telecom solution provides
and the world leading ‘Formula’ group which employs over 4000 software
engineers and is traded on the NASDAQ. IMCS
is a software solution provider for the telecom operators, both wireless
and wireline and also for the convergent billing of telecom and IP.
The wide range of IMCS products includes Order Management System (OMS)
Modules, IP and GPRS Billing, Customer Care System, Pre-Paid Management
System, Fraud Management System, CRM Modules, Work-Force management
and Dealer Management. IMCS
is built on an open ended modular architecture and is fully scalable.
The inbuilt flexibility in the IMCS system eliminates the need for a
total rehaul of the existing system and allows need based module wise
integration with the currently running applications. IMCS fully integrates
MTS and GPRS management tools and is hence truly a 3G product, ready
to take care of the emerging telecom and also IP convergent market in
India. The
system is compatible with GSM, CDMA, WLL, TDMA, TACS, etc. R.B.
COMTEC ((A Division of R.B. Business Promotion Pvt. Ltd) FIBCOM,
is a joint venture company set up by Tellabs Denmark A/s in partnership
with ITI Ltd. the oldest & the largest telecom company in India
and IFU of Denmark. In
1996, FIBCOM was India’s first company to set up local manufacturing
facilities for Fiber Optic based SDH products and related network management
systems. In 1999, FIBCOM again was the first company to showcase its
DWDM systems. First Indian Company, to have been awarded ISO 9002 certification
for SDH products, it has emerged as the number one vendor by revenues
for SDH network solutions. FIBCOM has registered 15-fold growth in its
revenues, from just Rs.100 million to over Rs.1.5 billion during last
three years and has been rated amongst the top ten telecom hi-fliers.
FIBCOM
together with its JV partner, ITI has supplied the largest installed
base of its SDH equipment’s in the BSNL’s nationwide backbone network
and MTNL’s metro networks in Mumbai & Delhi. Besides FIBCOM’s SDH
products have the largest deployment in Indian Railways. Cost competitiveness,
latest generation state-of-art products and services combined with its
impeccable records on fast response on deliveries and customer support
has earned the Company confidence of a the largest number of all major
telecom operators in ISP, GSM cellular mobile, basic services segments.
FIBCOM,
in its endeavor, to serve its valued customers better, is showcasing
its latest generation products at Convergence India 2001. FOCUS
AC0 A combination of
primary multiplexing of POTS, ISDN, Data working with CAS/V5.1/V5.2
signaling is ideal for use as DLC or primary MUX for seamless and cost
efficient interworking with switch. FOCUS
AC 1 (STM1/4) A
highly flexible, adaptable, compact and expandable platform to work
as STM1/STM4 with all tributary combinations like E1/E3/E4/STM1o/STM1e/ATMUNI.
Best suited for regional and access networks. FOCUS
LX Flexible and scalable
platform for ADM and 4/1 cross-connect designed for high capacity (
upto 2.5 Gb/s) transport
and grooming of E1 /E3/ STM1/STM4 in access, metropolitan and regional
networks. FOCUS
AC 4 (STM 4/16)
Compact, modular and expandable design with integrated Optical
Amplifiers for working range upto 160 Kms with/without colour interface
to acts as a feeder to DWDM systems and provides E4/STM1 SW configurable
tributaries. Best suited for trunk and regional Networks. FOCUS
6200 (DWDM) 32 channel
platform upgradable to 64/128, supports 2.5/ 10 Gb/s signals on standard
G.652 fibre. A variety of interfaces like IP/ATM/SDH/Gigabit Ethernet
are interfaced to SW configurable 2R/3R Transponders. Integrated with
AC4 on colour interface provides transponderless DWDM system for high
reliability and cost effectiveness solution. FOCUS
NM 2100 Robust, scalable
and reliable carrier-class system to manage all FIBCOM FOCUS products.
It provides with open Interface (Q3) both upwards and downwards for
easy integration with other management systems. Gate
No.22, South Block, Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, NeMo
Remote Headend Cable Modem Termination System A
high-speed 2-way RF Cable modem solution designed for a distributed
node architecture for homes, multiple dwelling units, campuses, executive
offices and hotels. NeMo
Cable Modem System
Features and Benefits
Digital
Microwave Radio 7700 Series The
7700 Series Digital Microwave Radio (DMR) is a compact and light weight
unit ideal for rapid installation in modern, medium and long haul point-to-point
links in terrestrial communications networks. The
product range is extremely flexible and can be configured to support
low to medium capacity applications from 2 Mbps to 34 Mbps and is available
in RF Bands of 7/8, 10.5 and 15 GHz. Digital interface, based on SIM
Cards, enables deployment at any point in the digital communications
network. Key Features
Known
largely as the world’s greatest chip maker, Intel is now engaging itself
in creating, sustaining and supporting Internet technologies that would
”grow the total information infrastructure now and in the future.” A
global view of this new role for the world’s chip maker was on the screen
at the presentation of Dr. Siddhartha Das, CEO, Intel Capital in India.
The 60-minute presentation at the Intel workshop at Convergence India
2001 event had a full house applauding. Dr.
Das and his colleagues also discussed how Intel has become a major promoter
of wireless technologies even as in many developed countries wireless
growth has overtaken wireline growth. Internet
was accelerating convergence, Dr Das explained.
Access revenues for ISPs was 61 per cent two years back it is
40 per cent now. The major revenue comes from applications like e-business,
which is expected to be 1.3 trillion dollars by 2003. “Intel is changing
everything” he pointed out. The
500 million dollar venture capital fund of Intel had helped support
a host of technologies and products even as competition and deregulation
was quickening the pace of growth of Internet.
“We invest with strategic intent. Aiming to create and expand
new markets for Intel’s products,” he added. Financial
returns were not Intel’s primary goal in these venture funding, Dr.
Das emphasized. “We are
seeking companies that can succeed and have an impact on their market
segment. Thus financial
potential is an integral part of our selection criteria as well.” These
products and technologies included different e-commerce applications,
billing, enterprise rescues planning, high density gigabit switches,
OS for digital broadband media applications, music applications on the
web, both backbone and last mile networks, etc.
“Our ideal candidate has both strategic impact and financial
viability”, he said. Working
with Intel had helped small businesses and technology companies to acquire
global views and global markets.
Dr. Das quoted Yosi Amram, of ValiCert Inc. whom Intel helped
develop security applications: ”the fact that Intel has reviewed our technology and thought
it was worth supporting has reinforced our impact on the market place.” Intel
inside Internet growth Timir
Chokshi - Product Manager, CPI Wireless Solutions, visiting Convergence
India 2001 from CPI headquarters in the heart of the silicon valley
in the USA said, ”CPI Satcom Division is the worldwide leader in unlink
ampilifier products and systems for satellite communications. The company
has played a pivotal role in the satcom industry since its inception.
The first satellite projects, including INTELSAT and CONUS, were supported
by CPI, which was then part of Varian Associates, Inc. Today, its scope
and global reach is unmatched, having shipped over 14,500 high power
amplifiers to uplink stations in over 156 countries. CPI products are
available in all commercial frequencies including: C- Band, Ku- Band,
Ka- Band, DBS- Band and X- Band. CPI Satcom Division is uniquely equipped
to be your one-stop supplier for standard and emerging satcom applications.“ “Building
N/ws for Global Broadband Communications” “Building
Next Generation N/Ws” “The
Contrarian view : Building infrastructure in developing countries to
facilitate Global Broadband Interconnectivity” “Next
Generation Services for Next Generation Networks” “Building
Networks for Global Communications” “Functionality
& Capabilities of TMN (NM2100 nm) in Telecon Network Management” “Building
a World Class Telecommunication
Network End to End
Project Management view point.” “Building
Networks for Global Communications.” “New
Vision for Satellite Communication in the
Speakers “New
Skies Satellites - Building the Broadband Neighbourhood for India”
“Agrani
C-& Ku band Project” “The
opportunities of VSAT Technology in a Broadband World” Workshop
on VoIP “Voice
Quality (VQ) in Converging Telephony and IP Networks” “The
New World of IP Telephony Services” “Mission
Critical Operating System” “Servicing
the e-generation Business” “2001-Outlook
for the Indian IT and Internet Industry” “Mobile
Portal” “Legacy
Business to e-business-A Strategy for the Next Generation” “Migrating
from GSM to GPRS to UMTS” “UMTS
Voice, Data, Video Go Mobile” “Importance
of Infrastructure in Building e-services Centers” “Java
in Wireless” “Enabling
e-business Networks” “Emerging
Delivery Systems” “Streaming
Media in Indian Context-Present and the Future of the Interactive TV” “Streaming
Video an Indian Case Study” “Optical
Access” “Domestic
Networks-Value Proposition to “Pre-requisites
of Cable Repairs and Maintenance” “Introduction-Submarine
Cable Business, Technology and Trends” “Submarine
Cables & India-Gateway to the Information Superhighway” “Bandwidth
explosion in Asia Pacific” New
Delhi 21 March 2001. Broadband is in, but it is not the end. It is an
opportunity to bring all that is happening together and India is to
benefit immensely particularly as its wired networks are yet not that
widespread. This is to reduce the cost of introduction of the new systems
be it fibre, fibre space optics or just the wireless. Almost
all speakers virtually agreed at the conference on “The Broadband Access
Opportunity” on Wednesday that there would be a snowballing effect in
activities around the country and give price advantage to the consumers.
Shashi Ullal, President and Managing Director of Hughes Escorts Communications
India, chairing the session observed that three key things that gave
boost to the economy and activities in the US - network of roads, excellent
telecom network and academia-government-industry interface - have begun
in India. The
convergence of technology through the fast-paced technology that broadband
will usher in yet faster activity in the entertainment and news convergence.
The industry, Ullal says, will increase its turnover from a mere $ 4
billion today to $ 13 billion. Networks
have to be two-way options and utilise all the various available modes
to make a mesh like and pyramidal network to reach all corners. A television
cannot just remain a TV but has to be interactive. As Nick Graham, marketing
manager of Americom Asia Pacific, Singapore, says that the bandwidth
will be virtually available as per the needs of the consumer. It can
be anywhere from 25 kbits to 5Mbits or even more. Even the cable networks
can have 90 to 240 channels at 10 gegabits, if Terabit Transmission
is used, says Michel Magon of Alcatel Optical Fibre. Future configurations
are likely to be based on 40 Gbits. The
undersea market that is developing is likely to further add pace to
it, says Rajesh Kheny, Managing Director of Asia Pacific, Tycom of USA.
The undersea networking with its fleet of 13 ships is creating direct
links between Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong and USA. By next year 70,000
km of undersea connectivity will be established. India will not lag
behind. Chennai will have undersea connectivity with Guam in USA making
data and entertainment transfer a quicker and easier job with far reduced
net congestion. But
the world is much beyond that, if Avtar Singh, MD of Light Pointe, San
Diego, California, is to be believed. The future is in Fibre Space Optics
(FSO). The system works where the fibre stops working. It can have a
range of up to 15 km in clear weather. It is unique as the simple device
can be mounted on house tops or even on windows and gives a wider bandwidth
20 kilobits to 1.5 gegabits. The
operators will all have to work out a system, the speakers agreed, where
they can earn enough revenue from the thin spread. The prices have to
come down in a competitive regime but the broadband will give them an
opportunity to provide much more at an affordable cost to rake in enough
to sustain and compete. |