Nortel, Chhattisgarh State Enhance Communications With WiMAX

Nortel is teaming with the Chhattisgarh State Government to modernise its communications infrastructure through a new, high-bandwidth State Wide Area Network (SWAN), which will connect all the departments of the state. The Chhattisgarh SWAN (CG SWAN) is a hybrid network with a mix of wireless and wireline access supporting voice, data and video traffic. It will be one of the largest fixed WiMAX deployments in the country for e-governance, providing access to 3,000 locations in the state.

The CGSWAN will also serve as the backbone for various state departments to deploy IT-related applications for the public. The SWAN will provide intra-department as well as inter-department connectivity and access to all departments under the state government. For example, not only will the Regional Transport Offices (RTO) be connected across the State, but they can also be connected to the Police department. If there is a vehicle used in a crime, the police department can instantly access the details of the owner of the vehicle, residing within the RTO, resulting in swift action against the offender.

Improved data sharing among different departments of the government enabled by SWAN will lead to better monitoring and evaluation of government programmes as well as a more effective, efficient and transparent administration. e-Government for citizens will also be greatly improved through real-time access to information reducing the need for multiple visits and time consuming, paper-based approvals.

“With SWAN, we will be able to connect our offices not just at the headquarters level, but right down to the local administration levels even in remote, inaccessible areas,” says Aman Singh, chief executive officer, Chhattisgarh Infotech and Biotech Promotion Society (CHiPS). CHiPS is a division of the Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology, Government of Chhattisgarh.

CHiPS selected Nortel’s WiMAX-based last-mile connectivity over competing WLAN solutions as the most cost-effective and simple to deploy high-performance solution available. “WiMAX is a proven technology for providing reliable communications and access across rough terrains and remote areas that are difficult to serve with conventional wireless or wireline technologies. We estimate we will save close to 30 percent over five years compared to a WLAN solution,” says Singh. “WiMAX is also based on open standards, which is key to the government’s e-governance vision to implement platforms that offer interoperability.”

Nortel’s wireless network ensures faster roll out in the state, which has thick forest cover and other inaccessible locations. The wireless network doesn’t require laying expensive cables with extensive digging. The network will cover all the locations in the state for the last mile through fewer cell sites, which means the roll out will be faster with WiMAX while ensuring lower total cost of ownership.