BSNL to Deploy WiMAX, Expand Broadband Network in India
January 05, 2007
India's BSNL has chosen Aperto Networks to provide for its WiMAX deployment throughout six initial cities of Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Pune, as well as four rural areas in the state of Haryana. Overall, 1,000 WiMAX block headquarters will be erected in the country.Meanwhile, BSNL is to invest approximately 20 billion Rupees (US$452.7 million; US$1 = 44.2 Rupees) in expanding its broadband network. BSNL's existing 820 million users will be upgraded to 2 Mbps broadband speed, and the existing one million port capacity will be augmented with another five million. WiMAX technology will be employed in rural areas where broadband connection is infeasible. It is projected that by the end of 2007, BSNL's broadband network will cover 1,000 cities or towns and 20,000 villages in the country.