Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Move to close digital divide

T.S. Shankar

Midas bags CSIR Diamond Jubilee Technology Award for 2004

Shirish B.Purohit

CHENNAI: "We are working towards bridging the urban-rural digital divide and working on ... technologies to provide low-cost, high-speed broadband access to the masses," according to Shirish B. Purohit, Director and CEO, Midas.

Explaining the broadband access technologies being initiated by Midas, Mr. Purohit said the company developed a CITUS technology, using the cable TV network, to provide 30-40 mbps broadband connectivity.

The company, which specialises in designing telecommunication systems, lays emphasis on wireless technology and has developed indigenous technology for the last-mile connectivity based on the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication (DECT) standard for WLL access with focus on rural areas.

Mr. Purohit said Midas was exporting telecom equipment to 20 countries. The Rs.250-crore company, with a 800-strong workforce, has clients in Brazil, Egypt, Tunisia, Russia, Ukraine, Honduras, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. It has been listed among the top 200 promising private technology companies in Asia by Red Herring.

CorDECT is an advanced, cost-effective WLL system developed by Midas and the IIT, Madras. It provides a complete wireless access solution for new and expanding telecommunication networks with the integration of broadband Internet services and high-quality voice communication.

Established in 1994 to develop indigenous technologies, the Chennai-based company has been chosen for the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Diamond Jubilee Technology Award for 2004. CSIR Director-General R.A. Mashelkar said the award was in recognition of the company's excellent work in design, development and commer cialisation of CorDECT WLL and Optima.

"We hope this recognition will motivate many budding entrepreneurs to take up challenging technology-based innovative ventures to lead the country globally and make India proud," Dr. Mashelkar said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will present the award in New Delhi on September 28.

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