RailTel Corporation of India

RailTel Corporation of India Ltd.
Native name
 रेलटेल कॉर्पोरेशन ऑफ़ इंडिया लिमिटेड
Public sector undertaking (PSU)
Industry Telecommunications
Founded September 2000 (2000-09)[1]
Headquarters 143, Institutional Area, Sector-44, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
Area served
 India
Key people
 R.K. Bahuguna (Chairman & MD)
Services RailTel Services, Carrier Service-Leased Line, NLD for Voice Carriage, Managed Co locations Enterprise Service (MPLS-VPN), Internet
Revenue Increase₹5.54 billion (US$82 million) (2014–15[2])
Increase ₹2.98 billion (US$44 million) (2014–15[3])
Profit Increase ₹2.56 billion (US$38 million) (2014–15[4])
Total assets Increase ₹12.36 billion (US$180 million) (2014–15[5])
Owner Indian Railways
Number of employees
 525[6] (2014–15)
Subsidiaries RailTel Enterprises Limited
Website www.railtelindia.com

RailTel Corporation of India Ltd. is a Miniratna enterprise of Government of India focusing on providing broadband and VPN services. RailTel was formed in September 2000 with the objective of creating nationwide broadband, telecom and multimedia network, to modernize Train Control Operation and Safety System of Indian Railways. RailTel's network passes through around 5,000 stations across the country, covering all central business districts, towns, cities, mini/major-metros.[7]

RailTel has created state of the art multimedia telecom network using SDH/DWDM-based transmission systems and high end routers for MPLS-IP network. Indian Railways have seamless right-of-way along 63,000 km of rail tracks passing through 7000 stations across the country. The stations in major cities are located in central business districts. Indian Railways already had established a strong Telecom Network to meet its communication requirements. With the formation of Corporation, Indian Railways' right-of-way and OFC assets have been transferred to RailTel. About 32500 km of OFC has been laid and over 29500 km has been commissioned. Works on another 10620 km are in various stage of completion.

RailTel holds the following licenses using which it is offering various services across India:

National Long Distance:

Class "A" ISP (with Internet Telephony)
IP-II
IP-I

Backbone

RailTel has rolled out a transparent, robust, reliable, high speed OFC Backbone Network covering about 32000 km now and ultimately covering 45,000 km across the country by 2010. Over 3200 cities and towns have been connected on the network.

The backbone networks have been configured in multiple 'self healing' rings consisting of more than large no. of rings and linear sections, which provide for redundancy by automatically redirecting traffic away from failed/ de-graded route for fault-free service.

The long haul network of RailTel is on STM-16 which has already been upgraded to 100 G DWDM which can be further augmented up to 400 Gbit/s.

MPLS-IP Network

The MPLS network has been built using Junos M-20 and M-10 high end routers of Juniper. The network supports services like layer 3 and layer 2 VPN services, broadband internet access, multicast services etc. The MPLS network has POPs at 40 cities across the country and is in the process of being extended to other important cities/towns also. The IP services at more than 3000 POPs in the country will be extended through Ethernet interface available in the SDH networks at these locations which will intern be connected to MPLS-IP backbone network at the 40 cities. The MPLS backbone supports multiple STM-1 capacity. The network is also being upgraded to Giga capacity overlaid on new DWDM network, so as to provide gigabit VPN ports for IP based voice, video and data applications.

NGN Network

RailTel has also built a NGN network which is being used to transit Inter circle Voice call of various mobile and basic operators. The network has been rolled out in 18 cities and will be increased to more cities in the future. These cities are Bangalore, Chennai, Mysore, Coimbatore, Secunderabad, Madurai, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Jallandhar, Lucknow, New Delhi, Bhubneshwar, Kolkata and Patna On the strength of this network RailTel is offering not only Class 4 services but can further enhance its service portfolio by offering various value added services (VAS) like enterprise VoIP, etc.

Internet Backbone

RailTel is providing nationwide Internet services on its state of the art MPLS backbone. RailTel sources STM-1 level Internet bandwidth at three different locations, i.e., New Delhi, Mumbai & Chennai using three different service providers. The capacity will be augmented to multiple STM-1s/ STM4s at each location.

Wi-Fi & WiMax

RailTel is set to unwire rural areas with High Speed Broadband connectivity using the future proof WiMax technology. On the strength of this network, RailTel plans to offer Broadband Internet, VoIP and other Value Added Services including E-Governance applications at your finger tip instantly. RailTel has been allotted spectrum in 2.7 GHz band by DoT(department of telecommunication) in this regard. For this project RailTel has entered into an MoU with private organizations under PPP (Public Private Partnership) initiative. In addition RailTel has started making various Railway stations Wi-Fi/ WiMAX enabled thereby enabling passengers to connect to Internet using their laptops, handhelds and other Wi-Fi devices in railway stations.

Free WiFi at stations

RailTel, in collaboration with Google, launched free WiFi service at Mumbai Central railway station in January 2016. In April 2016, the service was expanded to 9 more railway stations.[8] Google and RailTel plan to provide free WiFi at 100 railway stations across the country by the end of 2016.

Railwire

With the formation of extensive and robust Pan India Fiber network RailTel is in a position to offer various bandwidth intensive application to its customers. One such initiative is RailWIRE, a joint venture with MSOs to provide Voice, Video and Multimedia access on a single wire at home/office.[9] Customers in urban and even rural areas can now experience the power of Triple play services. Digital cable channels can be broadcast to the end users on the strength of this network along with broadband Internet, VoIP and other services simultaneously. For more details please log on to www.railwire.co.in.

Cyber Cafes

RailTel plans to open Cyber Cafes on various railway stations across the country. In the first phase 83 cities have been identified for cafes. Out of which 24 cafes is already operational. The remaining cafes are already under implementation and are expected to be operational in a year time. The Cyber Cafes are fully air-conditioned. The services offered at cafes: Internet browsing, Internet telephony, Scanning of documents, Video conferencing, Audio video chatting, printing of documents and CD writing etc.

Bandwidth services(From 64 kbit/s to 10Gbit/s)

RailTel has a vast OFC network capable of providing bandwidth services at a large number of towns and cities across the country. RailTel is uniquely positioned to provide these services with following features:

Internet services

RailTel is also offering internet services as an ISP (Internet Service Provider). It has an ISP category-A licence to provide these services. This service is available all along the OFC network of Railtel.

Features

RailTel is offering Internet Services all along its network. Corporates as well as individual or groups can avail of it.

The network supports voice over internet protocol (VOIP) or internet telephony.

An unrivaled network infrastructure with multiple Internet backbone providers to keep your data flowing and your access to the Internet protected, 24/7.

Rock-solid, always reliable based on state-of-the-art systems.

The Internet connectivity and speed provided by RailTel supports all kinds of usage including VOIP and Video Chat

The Internet connectivity and speed provided by RailTel supports all kinds of usage including VOIP and Video Chat

RailTel plans to open about 250 Cyber Cafes on Railway Stations across the country . In First phase 83 cities have been identified for cafes. Out of which 7 cafes is already operational ( New Delhi, Hyderabad, Banglore, Gorakhpur, Asansol, Jhansi and Pune ) .The remaining cafes are already under implementation and are expected to be operational in a year time. The Cyber Cafes are fully Air-conditioned . The services offered at Cafes :- Internet browsing, Internet telephony, Scanning of documents, Video conferencing, Audio video chatting, printing of documents and CD writing etc.

Co-location facilities

Towers space is available for installing antennae at more than 1000 locations. There are various such locations which are being used by over a dozen satisfied customers including basic service operators, cell operators, Entertainment and Media organizations. Towers locations are spread throughout the country. Space available for installing electronic equipment. Electricity and Co-Location facilities available in secure railway premises in nationwide Railway infrastructure. RailTel is also tying up with tower Infrastructure companies to provide managed services and establishing new Towers.

VPN Services

RailTel is capable of providing virtual private networks for corporates. The RailTel infrastructure for VPN is based on MPLS (Multi protocol Label Switching) technology ensuring top class IP VPN services. MPLS system allows full control over parameters that are critical to offering secure and efficient VPN service. Thus the industrial houses can have a very secure fiber connectivity and RailTel can meet all their voice and data VPN requirements.

NLD

RailTel has launched NLD business by signing IUC (Interconnect) Agreement with major operators across India. The NLD infrastructure has been built, is based on Next Generation Network (NGN) Technology. This will enable operators to offer cheaper STD (National Long Distance) services to subscribers using RailTel's NLD Network.

Network has been rolled out in 18 cities and will be increased to more cities in the future. The proposed cities are Bangalore, Chennai, Mysore, Coimbatore, Secunderabad, Madurai, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Jallandhar, Lucknow, New Delhi, Raipur, Bilaspur,Bhubneshwar, Kolkata and Patna On the strength of this network RailTel will be able to offer not only Class 4 services but can further enhance its service portfolio by offering various value added services (VAS) like enterprise VoIP, etc.

Awards

Rail Tel has bagged the 12th National Awards for Excellence in Cost management 2014[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Evolution of Railtel". http://www.railtelindia.com. Retrieved 22 January 2016. External link in |website= (help)
  2. ↑ "15th Annual Report 2014-2015" (PDF). http://www.railtelindia.com. RailTel Corporation of India Limited. Retrieved 22 January 2016. External link in |website= (help)
  3. ↑ "15th Annual Report 2014-2015" (PDF). http://www.railtelindia.com. RailTel Corporation of India Limited. Retrieved 22 January 2016. External link in |website= (help)
  4. ↑ "15th Annual Report 2014-2015" (PDF). http://www.railtelindia.com. RailTel Corporation of India Limited. Retrieved 22 January 2016. External link in |website= (help)
  5. ↑ "15th Annual Report 2014-2015" (PDF). http://www.railtelindia.com. RailTel Corporation of India Limited. Retrieved 22 January 2016. External link in |website= (help)
  6. ↑ "15th Annual Report 2014-2015" (PDF). http://www.railtelindia.com. RailTel Corporation of India Limited. Retrieved 22 January 2016. External link in |website= (help)
  7. ↑ "RAILTEL Celebrates its Annual Day". Press Information Bureau, Indian government. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "Google, RailTel expand free WiFi reach, cover 9 more stations". Business Standard. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "RailTel to tie up with MSOs to expand internet base in rural T.N.". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 25 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "Railway PSU – “RailTel” Bags 12th National Awards for Excellence in Cost Management 2014". Press Information Bureau of India. Retrieved 19 July 2015.

External links

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