VSNL on bandwidth accretion drive

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 30. In a move that has left its potential competitors stumped, the public sector Videsh Sanchar Nigam (VSNL) today commissioned a new stream of 155 mb international Internet bandwidth at its New Delhi gateway to add to the existing bandwidth of 56 mb. The additional provisioning amounts to nearly quadrupling the bandwidth at Delhi and is part of VSNL's recent drive for making higher bandwidth available to corporate and domestic customers of its points of presence.

With this addition, VSNL's total bandwidth stands at 775 mb. ``Very soon we will touch 1 gb. We are constantly working towards improving the Internet infrastructure of the country,'' said the VSNL CMD, Mr. S. K. Gupta. The new link is expected to bring about a comfortable bandwidth scenario in the entire northern region.

In a few months, this bandwidth will be made available to bulk consumers at drastically lower rates. VSNL has already announced a steep reduction in the tariffs applicable for Internet leased lines and international private leased lines from January 1, 2001. Under the new tariff structure, a 2 mbps fibre head at Mumbai and Cochin will cost Rs. 12.5 lakhs instead of Rs. 41.8 lakhs. There has also been a marginal reduction in rates for satellite-derived capacity. The new tariff structure also includes a commitment discount. It ranges from a 10 per cent discount on two years commitment to 25 per cent on five years commitment.

This reduction in prices will be accompanied by streamlining of tariff. Different rates for European and American sub-continents will be replaced by a single rate. It may be noted that this announcement of a price reduction follows a 50 per cent price reduction announced in January this year of international private leased lines and 25 per cent for general category of customers.

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Section  : Business
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