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NRI's Brother is investing Rs 20
crore in Gujrat for satellite channels television project Ahmedabad, May 17, 2004 THE brightly painted building and the 100-metre-tall tower are an oddity in the lush green terrain of South Gujarat’s coastal belt. But, in Gandevi area of Navsari, it heralds the arrival of wireless technology. Neither CAS (Conditional Access System) nor DTH (Direct To Home), the phenomenon is called MMDS (Mircowave Multipoint Distribution Service). To be launched by entrepreneur Yogesh Naik, MMDS will soon bring satellite channels and Internet to far-flung homes in this region. Naik, a resident of Amalsad near Gandevi, came across this system while visiting his brother in North America. ‘‘MMDS is very popular in rural areas of North America, Latin America and Canada where there is low penetration of cable television network. It also eliminates (Internet) bandwidth problems. The service is provided through radio transmitter towers set up at the highest point in the area,’’ says Naik, adding, the tower in Gandevi will begin transmitting signals in a month’s time. Initially, the consumer will have to shell out Rs 7,000 for a digital decoder and an antenna. The monthly subscription rate adds up to Rs 200, says Naik, who is investing Rs 20 crore in the project. The idea to introduce MMDS struck Naik when he could not avail of the cable television service in Amalsad. ‘‘The cablewallah and I live on opposite sides of a railway track. That was when I thought of a technology which wireless and affordable,’’ says Naik. Armed with the necessary licences from the various union ministries, Naik explains why the system will click. ‘‘The Cable TV network is not easily available in coastal areas. It is not easy to access the Internet either. The area is flush with prosperous farmers who would like to avail themselves of this service. There are several industries in this belt too. Moreover, the villagers can afford the monthly rate,’’ says Naik, who is planning to set up a tower every 60 miles in the region. Says Nimesh Naik, a farmer in Kachholi: ‘‘There is a strong NRI presence here. The technology will be accepted, provided it is launched soon.’’ Mihir Desai, a resident of Valsad, believes many from industrial areas like Sachin and Vapi would like to use this technology to further their business. Naik will import the necessary equipment from a Canadian firm. He has already carried out test runs in the area to customise them to suit Indian weather conditions. ‘‘First, we will provide Internet service, then move on to cable TV,’’ he adds. |