RailTel is also termed as BroadBand Network Across Country. RailTel is a unique project driven under PPP service model to execute Country Wide Broad Band Services in India using it extensive high capability of Fiber Network infrastructure. Most of us are not aware of this program and thus failing to see the benefits of this project for all Indian which will certainly boost the India’s telecom growth and GDP growth in the coming years.
Features of RailNet:
1. Broadband rollout in PPP mode
2. Telecom infrastructure across 4000 stations to be used for the initiative
3. Concession Period of agreement to be 20 years extendable by 10 years
4. Freedom to choose broadband technology , tariff policy , sales and marketing and customer support
India has the largest network of Railways across the world which can be utilized effectively to provide a basic infrastructure to the growing telecom services in India through parallel lining of optic fibers .This will ensure immense penetration of broadband services in India. As we know a 10% increase in broadband penetration leads to 1.38 percentage increase in per capita GDP growth of any country. Thus by using RailNet project we can ensure a double digit growth in India and can increase the India’s GDP to many times. This is very ambitious project undertaken by the Railtel Corporation Of India Ltd. The plan seems to be very effective and accurate if executed well but as we India is a country of regulations only , this project may see some delay. But any other country would certainly like use this kind of asset in their country to the fullest. But DoT , TRAI , Railway and Indian government seems to be very aggressive this time and trying to make every process transparent and effective. The project will ensure a faster broadband connectivity to all the Indian villages which can be utilized various beneficial applications like internet connectivity, e-mail conversation, e-learning and e-governance. India Inc can witness a great leap in their growth story only through development and execution of these kinds of projects in rural India. India is passing through a phase of telecom revolution through the launch of much awaited 3g services in India and the parallel launch of RailTel will certainly enhance the pace of this revolution.
Surjeet Singh
