The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BSNL launches ePCO services

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Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BSNL launches ePCO services

Special Correspondent

Broadband penetration set to increase

ePCOs will help rural and semi-rural areas
There is a plan to develop a State rural IT policy

Bangalore: Minister for Information Technology Katta Subramanya Naidu unveiled the first ePCO, a collaborative initiate involving Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd’s Karnataka Circle, Intel, Karnataka PCO Association and ItzCash.

Multiple uses

The ePCO facility, using the public call office (PCO) network, is expected to provide a boost to broadband penetration.

Using ePCOs, citizens in rural and semi-rural areas can book bus, train and airline tickets, pay utility bills, recharge their prepaid mobile accounts, operate bank accounts, obtain college admission forms and conduct online transactions.

Intel PCs

BSNL will provide access to its telecom infrastructure and Intel has agreed to provide low-cost personal computers for use at the ePCOs. ItzCash will provide “transaction ability” to make the model commercially viable. The company’s cash cards, available in various denominations can be used at the ePCOs in cashless transactions effectively.

Mr. Katta Subramanya Naidu said ePCOs is a good example of private players joining hands to use technology for providing employment opportunities in rural Karnataka.

“We need the Internet and technology to be pervasive across domains and social-strata, in order to sustain and spread economic growth,” he said.

Rural BPOs?

The Principal Secretary, Information Technology, said the Government is examining the feasibility of establishing rural Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) units using the Public-Private Partnership model.

Plan

He also said the State Government was planning a State rural IT policy.

PC penetration

Referring to the low level of PC penetration at 7.5 per cent, the Chief General Manager, Karnataka Circle, T.S. Kuppuswamy said the ePCO has the potential to provide information to the common man who cannot afford a PC. He said the Karnataka Circle has 2 lakh PCOs, which can be harnessed for the ePCO venture.

He pointed out that although 85 per cent of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s exchanges were in rural areas, the revenue generated from these exchanges constituted only 15 per cent of the Karnataka Circle’s revenues.

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