TCS-CA signs e-governance MoU in Andhra

Hyderabad: Tata Consultancy Services' (TCS) division, TCS-Certifying Authority (TCS-CA), which is a public key infrastructure (PKI) service provider, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Andhra Pradesh Technology Services (APTS).

According to the agreement TCS-CA will enable all electronic applications of APTS and thereafter issue co-branded digital certificates.

M Vidyasagar, executive vice-president (advanced technology) of Tata Consultancy Services, while addressing the media after signing the MoU, stated, "The MoU will help TCS and APTS to leverage their technology and service offerings and provide IT solutions and consulting in e-governance space. The collaboration will also strengthen the e-governance initiatives undertaken by the Andhra Pradesh government."

Randeep Sudan, managing director of Andhra Pradesh Technology Services, said, "APTS will issue digital certificates for users of all e-Governance initiatives undertaken by the state government. These applications include e-procurement, e-Seva, paperless office and smart government initiatives," he said.

TCS would provide digital certificates and related services to organisations and individuals interacting with APTS to avail of digital signature options provided by the APTS electronic infrastructure.

According to Sudan this facility would be extended for e-procurement initiatives, which had over fetched Rs3,300 crore over the past18 months. The price would be around Rs1,000 for the key and certificate and Rs500 would be the renewable fee," he said.

He further reassured that the cost would come down once volumes went up. "Once the rural service delivery points (RSDPs) come up which will take broadband to the villages, we expect more transactions to take place," he said.