internet.quillem.com

According to figures released by the TRAI, VSNL/Tata Indicom has been steadily losing subscribers to other ISPs. With a loss of 24% of its subscriber base in the quarter ending March 2005, and a further loss of 9% in the quarter ending June 2005, VSNL's share has now slipped down to a measly 10.88%.

Summarised figures of the top five ISPs (quarter ending June 2005) were reported as follows:

Total Internet subscriber base: 5.9 million
The above figures include all modes of Internet access.

Oracle India is reportedly going to be involved in the MNIC that will provide a national identity card to every citizens of India.

Full story: Business Standard
Related link: Sify

e-Choupal has been picked out of 135 nominees as the winner of the 2005 Development Gateway Award worth USD 100000. e-Choupal, which was briefly covered on Quillem last year, uses a kiosk system to provide real time market information, forecasts, marketing guides and more to rural farmers in a number of states around the country.

Read more: Development Gateway,

Microsoft has announced the availability of its localised, low cost, stripped down version of Windows XP - Windows XP Starter Edition. The announcement came after discussions between the Redmond giant and a GOI delegation led by IT minister Dayanidhi Maran. Other points of note from the meetings included the bundling the Windows operating system along with broadband and PC packages not unlike this one.

Read more: Rediff, Economic Times.

The Indian government in its 2004 broadband policy targeted a 3 million broadband subscriber base by the end of 2005. The ISPAI has now stated that India will fall (woefully) short of that target by over 2 million, and that, according to the ISPAI secretary, is apparently an optimistic estimate.

Complete story: Financial Express.

VSNL has filed a petition before the TDSAT opposing the TRAI's decision to reduce bandwidth tariff on its (and others) IPLC charges. VSNL has claimed that the TRAI which based its decision on a study conducted by Ernst & Young, has selectively used data to show the current Indian IPLC market in poor light, and has not made an accurate assessment of the current market status. According to VSNL, all is well in the Indian bandwidth industry, where it controls close to 80% of the market.

United Villages, an American low cost ISP has applied to the Indian government to set up shop in India, and provide Internet services to rural India at an annual cost of about Rs.50/person.

The system involved works on similar principles to a post office or an elaborate "Sneaker Net". A central node [post office] is set up and connected to the Internet using any means available (satellite for really remote areas). This node services a certain number of villages around it. Each day, an employee (postman) rides out from the centre on a bicycle or moped (where available) and makes a circuit of each village serviced by the central node. The two wheeler is outfitted with a hardy WiFi enabled computer (which incidentally is not connected to the central node while on the road).

ZDNet India is running a story on BSNL's new offer to its broadband subscribers - a branded PC bundled with the connection, and payable in easy installments via the monthly phone bill.

While thus far, BSNL was content to refer it's customers to HCL, it has now also entered into a tie-up with Kolkata based Xenitis (of Apna/Aamar/Namma PC fame), which offers PCs at prices under Rs.10000. With the estimated monthly installment for the HCL PC set at Rs.400 per month, getting a computer with a broadband connection will now cost within the highly affordable bracket of Rs.650 (and lesser) per month.

The TRAI, in a consultation paper [PDF], has recommended a shift from the existing IPv4 implementation to IPv6. The paper, taking into account the impending explosion in broadband/Internet usage in India, suggests that an early, but gradual move towards IPv6 will minimise costs, reduce complexity and improve security and performance for all concerned. Comments have been requested from all "stakeholders".

Related Links: Sify, The Hindu.

Three root nameservers went online over the last three weeks in Chennai, New Delhi and Mumbai respectively. They were commissioned and installed by APNIC, in collaboration with the Department of Information Technology and NIXI. This is one in a number of steps being taken to promote self-sufficiency, reduce international bandwidth overheads and server loads.