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IT leader India still stands by 'dependable wireless'
Wednesday, 13 August 2003, 19:30 IST
NEW DELHI: India may be the world's IT superpower but it still swears by the wireless as the "only dependable communication arrangement".
And the external affairs ministry is dumping a high frequency radio communication (HFRC) network in favour of wireless and "alternatives based on more modern technology", Minister of State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh said in the Rajya Sabha Thursday.
The HFRC was installed at a cost of 
315 million more than a decade ago.
In a written answer, Singh said the ministry initiated the HFRC project in 1987 "with a view to providing a reliable and independent standby communications arrangement with selected Indian missions and posts for use during emergencies and the shutting down of local telecom networks".
Initially, 170 million was sanctioned for the project in 1991. This was revised to 315 million a year later. But the project faced technical and operational problems after implementation, including high recurring costs, he added.
In 1997 the Public Accounts Committee asked for re-evaluation of the project by an expert group.
The group recommended termination of the network "while agreeing that wireless provides the only dependable means of communication that does not require support of a local network".
It also noted availability of alternatives based on modern technology.
Singh said in accordance with the directions of the expert group, the HFRC network was shut down in mid-2001 and the equipment was being disposed of "to the best advantage of government".
Source: IANS
315 million more than a decade ago.
In a written answer, Singh said the ministry initiated the HFRC project in 1987 "with a view to providing a reliable and independent standby communications arrangement with selected Indian missions and posts for use during emergencies and the shutting down of local telecom networks".
Initially, 170 million was sanctioned for the project in 1991. This was revised to 315 million a year later. But the project faced technical and operational problems after implementation, including high recurring costs, he added.
In 1997 the Public Accounts Committee asked for re-evaluation of the project by an expert group.
The group recommended termination of the network "while agreeing that wireless provides the only dependable means of communication that does not require support of a local network".
It also noted availability of alternatives based on modern technology.
Singh said in accordance with the directions of the expert group, the HFRC network was shut down in mid-2001 and the equipment was being disposed of "to the best advantage of government".
Source: IANS