BSNL''s Dataone not to affect Midas Communications

19 January 2005

Midas Communication's CEO, Shirish Purohit, says there is nothing to worry about.the launch of Dataone, in an interview with V Jagannathan.

The launch of Dataone broadband service by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has put a question mark on the future of its 128kbps high speed DIAS schemes and its likely impact on the technology provider, the city-based Midas Communication Technologies Pvt Ltd or its Banyan Networks.

Interestingly it was Banyan Networks Limited (now a division of Midas Communication after the merger) that brought the country's only digital subscriber line (DSL) technology — the Direct Internet Access System to the market.

BSNL introduced the high speed DSL service in a limited way offering it in 400 exchanges located in 42 cities. The number of connections were restricted to 480 per exchange. The total number of DIAS subscribers is said to be around 20,000.

Given the fact that BSNL is offering 256kbps speed internet access for Rs500 per month with a download limit of 1 GB, the patronage for DIAS is expected to become almost negligible. However BSNL officials assure that DIAS will be offered at a lower price point.

Midas Communication's CEO, Shirish Purohit, says there is nothing to worry about. "Actually DIAS has been upgraded to a full fledged 'asymmetric digital subscriber line 2 Plus' (ADSL 2+) service. We will continue to be present in the BSNL exchanges." Excerpts: