The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) is testing new technologies that would enable Indian mobile companies to share infrastructure in an effort to reduce costs. Speaking to The Hindu, C-DoT Executive Director P. V. Acharya said companies have to share “active infrastructure” such as base stations and even wireless spectrum in order to remain cost-effective. “As operators reach out to rural markets where the average revenue per user (ARPU) is low, they will face a compelling need to reduce costs. This is where our technologies can help,” he said.
Mr. Acharya said C-DoT, which is now celebrating its 25th anniversary, is planning to “invite 4-5 Indian mobile operators” to its facility in Bangalore soon to test the Shared Active Radio System (SG-RAN), which enables sharing of “active” infrastructure. “By reducing capital and operating costs, the system will enable the rapid expansion of rural mobile telephony even if margins are lower for the operators,” Mr. Acharya claimed.
C-DoT has also developed a data clearing solution for telecom companies that facilitates the settlement of revenue sharing claims among operators.
It has also developed Next Generation Networks (NGN) for the state-owned telecom operators Bharat Sanchar Nigam Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL). Mr. Acharya said the solutions enabled the two companies’ wireline networks to become IP-enabled, “at minimal cost”.
He said C-DoT also periodically undertook “futuristic studies”. Its “One Number” project, which aims to provide a unique telephone number to a user, is examining the feasibility of using the number as an identity for the person.
The project is examining whether existing technologies and protocols permit this.
It is also examining what changes need to be made to the existing technologies which can facilitate the possibility of a user’s mobile number serving as an identity for accessing various services from the government and quasi-government institutions.
Mr. Acharya said the changes must be such that they do not require modifications in customers’ mobile phones. “The idea is to make changes to the infrastructure that too only on the software side, without touching the hardware”. However, he warns that C-DoT is at present “only examining the theoretical possibility” of using a unique number that would also act as a mobile phone number. “At this stage, this may seem exotic, but that is the romance of technology,” remarked Mr. Acharya.
Mr. Acharya said at the time of C-DoT’s birth in 1984, “The market was a closed one.” “The market was then prepared to wait for C-DoT and the organisation did a great job with the mandate it had for designing switches for the telecom network which were then owned by the Government.” “In contrast, we are now working in one of the most competitive markets.” “Today, we have evolved and are working on multiple communication technologies such as packet switches, and on different platforms such as wireless, satellite and several others.” Mr. Acharya said.
