Dot Lines Up Expansion Plan In Eastern States
The department of telecommunication (DoT) has chalked out an ambitious plan to lay 1000 km of fibre optic cable network in the eastern region in 1998. West Bengal will be the biggest beneficiary of the project.
During 1998, DoT will invest around Rs 100 crore in fibre optic cables, digital microwave equipment and very small aperture terminals (Vsats) to expand its grand national (information) infrastructure backbone.
The move to step up operations in the eastern region is in tune with its policy to focus on low tele-density areas. At present, the optical fibre network in the region runs into a mere 100 km.
DoTs projects department will complete purchase of the necessary equipment by March and work will commence after April.
The eastern region will witness a four-fold increase in circuits from the current STM 4 (having 7680 circuits) to the next stage STM 16, besides becoming a part of the national ring.
The STM 16 or the national ring will form a loop covering Raipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Vijaynagram, Cuttack and Calcutta. The national network, in turn, will have smaller rings or loops in different state circles connecting district and block headquarters.
The entire network in the region will be based on synchronous digital hierarchy technology and computer controlled, thus eliminating multiplexing equipment.
Similar STM 4 loops will be set up in all eastern states. In West Bengal, a STM 4 loop covering Siliguri, Krishnanagar, Berham- pur and Dalkhola will be taken up. Calcutta Telephones is also planning to set up a 160-km fibre-optic loop around Calcutta and Howrah. The project envisages laying optic fibre cable on a two 80 km stretches Uluberia in Howrah to Tribeni and Budge Budge to Kalyani.
Each stretch will be linked along rail/road bridges or through an underground link across the Hooghly river bed.
There would also be sub-loops like linking telephone exchanges of Jadavpur, Baghajatin, Sonarpur and other places.