Broadband initiative targets Chandigarh

(L-R) Intel South Asia Sales and Marketing Director Sandeep Aurora, BSNL Punjab Telecom circle General Manager Kamal Kumar, Intel World Ahead Program General Manager and Sales and Marketing Group Vice President John E. Davies, and PCO Association President Rajendra S.V.

Intel Corp., in partnership with BSNL, PCO Association and ItzCash, has launched an innovative ePCO initiative in Chandigarh.

ePCO is a collaborative effort among the above mentioned partners. The ePCOs aim to drive self-employment, bridge the digital divide and increase IT adoption in semi-urban and rural areas.

"The ePCO is an excellent step in making technology more affordable and accessible to a much larger number of people in India. We have around 200 ePCO's operational pan India and have rolled out the programme in 6 states till date. This initiative is in line with Intel's objectives in bringing together industry support in accelerating broadband connectivity in the country that can act as an economic growth driver," said Mr. John E. Davies, vice president, Sales and Marketing Group & General Manager, Intel World Ahead Program.

According to Mr. Rajendra S. V., President, PCO Association , "PCOs have become extremely popular and have succeeded in taking telecommunication to the rural areas already. Leveraging on the existing market penetration, this will be a great opportunity to take broadband to rural India. The ePCOs offer a good revenue model."

ePCOs services
The ePCOs, through this programme, will be able to offer multiple online services to citisens including:

* Railway, airline & bus ticket booking

* Utility bill payments (electricity, water, telephone)

* Mobile recharges

* Chat and Internet browsing facility

* Insurance and banking

* College admission forms

* Other online transactions: Cinemas tickets, DTH TV subscriptions, astrology, matrimonial, shopping etc.

* Video communication facilities