Sterlite Tech to connect universities for higher education

Sterlite Technologies Ltd, a leading global provider of connectivity solutions for the power and telecom industries, announced that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has chosen it to enhance its network for promotion of higher education in India.

The scope of the project includes establishment of world-class connectivity for 120 universities across the country. This infrastructure would act as an information backbone, enabling every university in the network to function as an e-university. This platform would facilitate high bandwidth data transmission that is essential for e-learning and video-based learning.

The company would connect 30 universities to this backbone during FY12, would connect the remaining 90 universities by FY14 and would manage the network for five years thereafter.

Sterlite has streamlined its efforts to implement the network well within the required project schedule.

This project is part of the ‘National Mission on Education through Information and Communication and Technology (ICT)’ undertaken by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

The mission has been envisaged to leverage the potential of ICT, in teaching and learning process for the benefit of all the learners in higher education institutions in any time anywhere mode.

One of the key objectives of the programme is to build a knowledge network among and within institutions of higher learning in the country. It aims to extend computer infrastructure and connectivity to over 18,000 colleges in India including each of the departments of nearly 400 universities/deemed universities and institutions of national importance to provide connectivity up to the last mile.

Rahul Sharma, head, System Integration Business, Sterlite Technologies, said: “The effective use of ICT will play an increasingly important role in bridging the digital divide between urban and rural India. The propagation of education through leveraging ICT would empower and equip our young generation of Indians. This would help in the enhancement and overall sustainability of the Indian economy.”

This contract valued at about Rs 48 crore, is part of a total bank of new orders valued at about Rs 225 crore that Sterlite has received since July 1, 2011.