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Ericsson has launched the Gramjyoti
Rural Broadband Project, an initiative to introduce benefits of
WCDMA/HSPA technology in rural India and connect communities to
high-speed Internet services for the first time.
The trial project was launched in
early September and will showcase the benefits of a host of mobile
broadband applications across 18 villages and 15 towns close to
Chennai, in Tamil Nadu.
By creating a stable ecosystem
based on leading WCDMA/HSPA technology, Ericsson will provide these
communities with high-speed Internet so they can access a range of
new services including telemedicine, e-education, e-governance,
online local information, voice and video call services; and live TV
and entertainment.
The initiative seeks to demonstrate
how WCDMA/HSPA technology can be a major catalyst for social and
economic empowerment in this developing region, helping to bridge
the digital divide and increase productivity and quality of life.
Based on leading global
technologies such as HSPA, the trial project was launched in early
September. Rural communities are the beneficiaries of the
initiative. Community centres with PCs and mobiles, mobile
ambulances connected using HSPA are extending government services
and telemedicine benefits to rural communities.
As part of the project, more than
3,000 students at three high schools in these communities will have
high-speed Internet access and receive e-learning courses.
Mats Granryd, managing director of
Ericsson India, says: "Ericsson aims to help India’s rural
population get first-hand experience of broadband applications. This
pioneering project will provide communities with access to
meaningful broadband services for the first time. Building an
efficient and affordable WCDMA/HSPA rural broadband can help serve
as a blueprint for the widespread introduction of Internet and
broadband connectivity in future.”
"We are delighted that India’s
Department of Telecommunications has given its support for this
initiative, and we look forward to close collaboration with our
partners to further extend the applications and help bring
communications to all,” Granryd added.
P Balaji, vice-president of
Marketing & Strategy, Ericsson India, pointed out, "We chose this
location because it reflects the typical telecom profile in rural
communities that have limited or no access to fixed telephones, but
are seeing the benefits of voice communication over a mobile
network. This project will demonstrate the power of 3G by building
an efficient and affordable rural broadband network and ecosystem.”
R Rangaraj
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