The Satyam Group is among a host of infotech groups seeking to become an Internet service provider (ISP). Among other private players in the fray are Wipro, Bharati, RPG Sprint and Reliance.
"Satyam Infoway is already in the e-mail value-added service and electronic data interchange (EDI) network service with a 12-node TCP/IP network. We are `Internet-ready' and could be the first firm in the country to become an ISP," R Ramaraj, managing director of Satyam Infoway, a Satyam Computer Services arm, said.
Infoway is awaiting the Department of Telecommunications' (DoT) final clearance following which it will provide the required Rs 2-crore bank guarantee and enter the service. "We expect the final policy to be announced soon, may be by the month-end," Ramaraj said.
The Satyam Infoway managing director said, following the recommendations of the information technology task force, certain concessional terms have been announced for infrastructure. For example, the earlier port charge of Rs 1 crore for 2 mb has now been reduced to Rs 72 lakh. But it still is on the higher side when compared with other countries, he added. Ramaraj said, as the industry did not enjoy a level playing field with the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL), the entry of several Internet service providers would not result in reduced subscriber charges.
"VSNL is not only the infrastructure provider, but it is also a service provider. In the absence of level- playing field, our costs will inevitably be higher", he observed. Infoway recently launched NetVenture, a comprehensive branded web hosting solution for small and medium scale enterprises (SME).
Plans were being finalised to provide NetVenture in 40 selected cities aimed at small and medium enterprises seeking to access the Internet, Ramaraj said.
The service will initially be available in 12 centres, where Satyam already has its presence. More locations will be added later through partners for sales and development on a selective basis. While Satyam Infoway will retain the role of Webmaster, the sales and development partners will design the site and also help update it.
Infoway has already conducted test runs in the metros and some selected cities to get a feedback on the response. It will soon launch a major campaign for NetVenture.