Information Society Watch

Decmber 26, 2007, The Hindu Business Line

Discussing 'spectrum wars' (the wireless spectrum required for connection from the user to the last network element viz., the radio base station), T. H. Chowdary, Director, Centre for Telecom Management & Studies, Hyderabad, notes that the mindset of the Indian telecommunications administrators is still ruled by the 'permit-license-quota' approach. An example given is the decision in the early nineties to allow licensees of mobile telephony to use only GSM and not any other technology.

December 29, 2007, Hindustan Times

The Goa government has unveiled a broadband initiative which aims to create an environment where information technology can be an enabler towards efficiency and accountability. Christened 'Goa Broadband Network', the project seeks to provide citizens services in the domains of health, education, agriculture and welfare services. The government is hoping that by also offering business services, the initiative can become commercially viable and will encourage public private partnerships towards this end.

December 2, 2007, Deccan Herald

The article focusses on the use of space technology for development in the rural sector. Along with geographical information services (GIS), such technologies can be effectively utilised to substantially improve the quality of services delivered by local bodies. The government commission appointed by the Prime Minister has studied the impact of these technologies both in the rural context in Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh as well as in Qatar in the Gulf.

December, 2007, Shubhendu Ghosh, Times News Network

The article highlights the fact that telecommunication network is an essential component of a modern city and analyses the Bangalore case to see how such network development can be facilitated. While good progress has been made in this regard, there are still considerable issues, particularly around the physical network deployment, as this involves disruptive activities such as digging trenches, laying cables etc.

December 24, 2007, Deccan Herald

As telecom revolution extends to rural India, telecom operators are realising that the infrastructure sharing may be the best way option. To meet national teledensity goals and reach out to rural markets, three companies have merged their infrastructure assets to form Indus Towers, a subsidiary company that aims to provide passive infrastructure services in the form of 70,000 telecom towers to all operators on a non-discriminatory basis.

August 10, 2006, Xeni Jardin, National Public Radio

A wireless network has brought the Internet to the remote region of Dharamsala, India, where communication technology has until now been rare. Web access promises better communication for the thousands of Tibetan refugees and monks in the area, who may use it to preserve Tibetan culture and tell their stories to the outside world.