News: Making Indian villages surf sans wires

(DNA 04/08/2006) Mumbai - US-based Qualcomm Inc, a leading developer and innovator of code division multiple access (CDMA) and other advanced wireless technologies, will supply CDMA2000-based wireless internet connectivity solutions to 65 village resource centres (VRCs) under Nasscom’s Rural Knowledge Network Programme.

The Nasscom programme supports the larger national initiative, Mission 2007, to establish 600,000 village resource centres by August 15, 2007.

Nasscom and Qualcomm would provide connectivity and content to centres in West Bengal, Orissa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Gujarat and Kerala. The alliance aims to empower communities that have limited or no telecommunication access through the use of 3G technologies.

Kanwalinder Singh, president (India and SAARC), Qualcomm, said, “Though wireless tele-density in India has grown exponentially, there is a huge disparity between urban and rural connectivity. CDMA 2000 enables both voice and data.

It is best suited to provide comprehensive connectivity to rural India and it would enable inclusive growth and development for the benefit of these underserved citizens.”

Saurabh Srivastava, chairman, Nasscom Foundation, said, “We recognise the role of telecommunications in empowering societies and its positive impact on human development indicators.”