India may have 100 mn broadband connections in 5 years: Pitroda

BSNL rolls out video phone commercially

Hoping that the newly launched video telephony, by BSNL and Sai Info Systems (SIS), will boost demand for broadband connection, Sam Pitroda, advisor to Prime Minister on public information, infrastructure and innovations, expects the number to hit 100 million in next five years.

Unveiling the Video Phone services in Gujarat for commercial use, Pitroda said, "It took 50 years for video telephony to move out of laboratories into market. However this new step in telecom holds the key behind a big jump in broadband connections in India. At present, the number of broadband connection is less than 10 million, but services like video telephony is bound to generate fresh demand for the broadband service. We hope to have 100 million broadband connections in India next 3-5 years."

Being offered by state-owned telecom operator BSNL in association with Ahmedabad-based IT solution provider SIS, the video telephony services will require land line telephone as well as broadband connections. With the help of a separate device, the service will allow subscribers to make video calls at Rs 2 per minute.

"We will begin offering video telephony services in association with SIS from January 22, 2010 while the connections will be offered from February 1, 2010 onwards. Initially, the service will be available to BSNL customers in Gujarat and by April, 2010, customers across the country will be able to avail the service. While the audio call will cost subscribers Rs 0.40 per minute, video calls can be made at Rs 2 per minute," said SK Bhandari, principal general manager, BSNL.

The video phone service will be available in wire line as well as wireless medium on IP. According to Vijay Mandora, director of SIS, a wide range of phone equipment from simple to high end models will be introduced in the market.

"The service is expected to revolutionize the telecom sector and take it to the next level. Globally with video phones have become an integral part of life. The service will be provided and marketed by SIS while the connectivity for the service will be provided by BSNL. BSNL will also market it as another value added service to its large broadband customer base," said Mandora, director, SIS.