Thursday, 31 August , 2006, 08:06 |
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New Delhi: Reliance Communications is all set to become the first company in the country to deploy a next generation network (NGN)-enabled Internet Protocol (IP) technology across the entire length of its 65,000-km-long optic fibre network. The new network will support a wide variety of advanced IP-based services such as interactive multimedia services, including video telephony and video conferencing. |
It will also enable users to get telephone calls anytime, anywhere through any device irrespective of it being a mobile phone or a fixed line telephone. Consumers will also get an integrated bill for all the various communications services.
The launch of the new platform is slated for later this week. This will have the capacity to carry 12 billion minutes of ILD traffic, thus multiplying the existing capacity to carry 4.5 billion voice minutes per annum.
While company officials declined to comment, it is learnt that the network deployment is being done by Lucent Technologies. The NGN would allow the company to deploy new product and services that may evolve on newer technology platforms, which would result in significant savings in future capital expenditure. It is estimated that the operational expenditure would drop by 50 per cent of the current levels in the next 12-16 months' timeframe.
The new network would allow Reliance to further enhance its leadership position among the broadband service providers who outsource international bandwidth. Globally, there are very few companies, which have launched NGN-based services. One of the services that has caught the imagination of users is the Blue Phone launched by British Telecom, which allows users to retain the same number for a fixed line telephone or a mobile. So, if the user is at home, the calls land on the fixed line phone and if he is travelling, the incoming calls are directed to his mobile. In India, operators such as BSNL and Bharti are also deploying NGN-based networks.