TCS-CA ties up with Andhra Pradesh Technology Services

Move to boost Andhra government's e-governance initiatives

Tata Consultancy Services-Certifying Authority (TCS-CA), a leading public key infrastructure (PKI) service provider, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Andhra Pradesh Technology Services (APTS), to enable all electronic applications of APTS and issue co-branded digital certificates.

Addressing a press conference after signing the MoU, M Vidyasagar, executive vice-president (advanced technology) of Tata Consultancy Services, said: "The MoU helps TCS and APTS to leverage their technology and service offerings and provide IT solutions and consulting in e-governance space. The collaboration will also strengthen the e-governance initiatives undertaken by the Andhra Pradesh government."

Randeep Sudan, managing director of Andhra Pradesh Technology Services, said that the partnership will enable APTS to act as an issuing authority.

"APTS will initially issue digital certificates for users of all e-Governance initiatives undertaken by the state government. These applications include e-procurement, e-Seva, paperless office and smart government initiatives," he said.

TCS on its part would provide digital certificates and related services to organisations and individuals interacting with APTS to avail of digital signature options provided by the APTS electronic infrastructure.

Sudan said that this facility would be first implemented for the e-procurement initiatives, which had over the last 18 months fetched Rs 3,300 crore. "We have negotiated a reasonable price which would be around Rs 1,000 for the key and certificate and Rs 500 would be the renewable fee," Sudan said.

According to Sudan the cost would considerable come down once the volumes increase and this becomes popular. "Once the rural service delivery points (RSDPs) come up which will take broadband to the villages, we expect more transactions to take place," he said.

According to Vidyasagar the company has more than 30 organisations under TCS-CA trust network as sub-certifying agencies and over 50 organisations are currently availing the PKI enabling solutions.

"We also have a unique advantage of being both as a PKI products and solutions vendor as well as a certifying authority," he said.