Sify, Banking Institute tie-up for online exams

Sify Ltd has entered into an agreement with the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance to conduct examinations of the institute online.

Over 50,000 candidates across the country are expected to take the examinations of the institute across 45 cities in India. The two main examinations conducted by the institute include JAIIB and CAIIB.

These are critical examinations for bank officers for their grade and salary increments, which are based on their performance in these exams.

Over 50,000 people write JAIIB exams at over 100 centres all over India every year. All the candidates will be required to appear at various Sify's iWay cyber cafes across the 45 cities in the country.

"Sify's iWay cyber cafes increased in number to around 1,725 with the service being extended to 63 cities. There are more than 12,000 PCs in use in all these iWays. Recently, we tied up with the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance to conduct online examinations for the institute from iWays," said Shrikant Joshi, president, Sify Access Media.

The online banking exams of the institute will be conducted between June 6 and July 4. Over 412 cafes have been chosen in 45 cities for the exams.

Sify will be conducting three shifts to accommodate the candidates and if needed, will run a fourth shift.

"The new plan gives results online almost immediately. It is secure and safe and it is accessible from the Iways," said R H Sarma, chief executive officer, IIBF.

"The institute faced with multiple challenges every year as the number of officers taking the exams grew. It required logistics management and ensuring papers reached on time and in sufficient quantities at all centres. Avoiding question paper leakages, turnaround times being too high, the institute was able to conduct exams only half yearly," said Sarma. Subscribers to Sify's broadband Internet access to homes increased to more than 23,000.

Usage revenues from this segment increased by around 50 per cent from the previous quarter.

Retail internet access segment accounts for 39 per cent of Sify's revenue.

Internet access at home through dial-up or broadband contributes 15 per cent, Internet access at iWay cybercafes 19 per cent, while other value-added services account for the remaining five per cent.

Sify is an internet, network and e-Commerce services company, offering end-to-end solutions with a range of products delivered over a common internet backbone infrastructure.

A significant part of the company's revenue is derived from corporate services, which include corporate connectivity, network and communications solutions, security, network management services and hosting.