The Hindu Business Line : BSNL ties up with Novatium for rural broadband service

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) along with the Chennai-based Novatium Solutions will soon roll out broadband services with ‘thin client’ technology in rural areas.

The universal services obligation (USO) fund (the Government’s effort for subsidising bandwidth to boost broadband penetration) will be used for launching the BSNL Broadband with Novatium’s Thin Client Nova Net PC, according to Mr Alok Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Novatium.

“Being a Chennai-based company we would like to start the rural broadband from Tamil Nadu. We may possibly start from this month end,” he told Business Line. The immediate opportunity is around eight lakh rural consumers who are with BSNL network, he said.

The Nova netPC is easy to use — just switch it on and off. It is secure — no local storage, no local program. Besides, it offers total access user control as well as control over peripherals; central data storage; and low obsolescence (client device life of eight years). Upgrade is required only on the server side. Windows, Linux and multimedia support, voice over Internet protocol and local printer are other features.

Thin client concept

The Nova netPC works on a ‘thin client’ concept. It is a small box and does not contain any software or application. It is linked to a central server, which hosts all applications. The box does not have any configuration or processor. The central service has all the storage and guarantees data privacy through encryption.

A subscriber is offered a package that includes applications such as Word, Excel and Media Player. More applications can be had for additional payment.

Novatium was co-founded by Mr Ray Stata, Chairman of Analog Devices, Mr Rajesh Jain, Managing Director of Netcore Solutions, and Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala of IIT-Madras.

Mr Singh said Novatium has decided to postpone by six months raising `large sums of money' for expansion due to the high cost of funds. However, it will raise around $5 million for the short term requirement. The cost of funds has gone up by nearly four times in the last one year, he said.

"We are not stopping with the expansion plans. In fact, every week the company is expanding into one circle. By the year end, we will be in all the circles of India," he said.

Novatium currently has presence in Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Goa, he said.

Related Stories:
BSNL ties up with Novatium for broadband services
Novatium partners BSNL
MTNL to partner Novatium for Net access device

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