e-Infrastructure

Introduction

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) together with Internet is making it possible to share vast amount of knowledge and information and is driving all round socio-economic changes and growth. E-Infrastructure will be the key enabler for the information and knowledge society. E-Infrastructure comprises tools, facilities and resources that are needed for advanced collaboration and includes integration of various technologies such as Internet broadband channels, computing power, bandwidth provisioning, data storage, grid based resource sharing etc. To sustain the growth of Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) and to meet the challenges of globalization leading to highly competitive markets, there is a continuing need to invest in quality infrastructure, promote R&D efforts, create intellectual property in communications, Internet and broadband technologies, and address the related policy issues.

Some of the Initiatives of DIT in this area include:

a. Establishment of Bio IT Park

The E-infrastructure Division is striving to promote Bio-IT activities in the country, Professional manpower creation in Bio IT field, R&D development in Bio-IT area, Knowledge sharing with national & international companies. So far, only two States Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have expressed interest to set up Bio-IT Facility. Process is currently underway to set up a Bio-IT facility in Bangaluru.

b. Information Technology Investment Regions (ITIR)

Information Technology Investment Regions (ITIR) scheme has been notified in the Gazette of India under which each State in India can set up an integrated township for facilitating growth of IT/BPO and Sunrise Industries with world class infrastructure in India.

c. Trans Eurasia Information Network - Phase 3 (TEIN3) under EU Co- operation.

Trans Eurasia Information Network Phase-3 (TEIN3) is being set up under India EU Cooperation on Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme, to link ERNET India with European Research Network GEANT Network in Europe through collaboration between ERNET and Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe Limited (DANTE) to produce a reliable and efficient connectivity between the two research communities so that the various network resources can be shared. A bandwidth of 45 Mbps connectivity was made operational from August, 06 to various academic and R&D institutions to share data research information and build a partnership in the area of Information Technology, Life sciences, genomic, biotechnology, material science, environmental science, etc. India is an important beneficiary and partner in this project. About 80% of the contributions are being borne by European Commission and remaining 20% is to be contributed by the participating countries in South East Asia to meet the core costs and the access charges. The total estimated contribution from India is of the order of Rs.22.0 crores over next 2 years for connecting India to Europe as well as Singapore hubs with protected links of 2.5 Gbps.

Indias participation will be continued and further strengthened in terms of promoting applications and usage of the network and its up gradation as and when required.

d. ICT Vocational Centers for Skill Creation for the Children with Disabilities in the area of Information Technology

20 ICT Vocational Centers for training the physically challenged children were set up in Phase-I. The less privileged children in the proximity of these centers have learnt ICT skills enabling them to seek employment and earn livelihood. The infrastructure at schools is connected to LAN and Internet to explore the World Wide Web (www) also. In the Phase II, the centers set up in Phase I are being maintained as well as the project has been launched for setting up 100 ICT Vocational Centers in different parts of the country. 50 ICT centers have already been identified in consultation with States/UTs and are under implementation through ERNET India.

The remaining 50 ICT Vocational Centers would also be set up by December 2010.Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment would be requested to carry forward up the scheme.

Setting up of ICT based distant training facility for Special Education

For providing distance training to the special educators, parents and teachers of children with special needs, a project has been initiated in E-Infrastructure Division with the following main objectives:-

• To provide infrastructure facility for imparting distance training for the Teachers and other rehabilitation professionals in the field of special education coming in the region of EDUSAT southern foot print.
• Design and implement innovative programmes for the parents of differently abled persons and introduce the use of ICT in the process of programming the children with Mental retardation and associate disabilities.
• The project envisages setting up of 20 Satellite Interactive Terminals (SITs) and 80 Receive Only Terminals (/ROTs) at special/SSA schools and institutions selected in the State of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka at a total budget outlay of Rs. 442.72 lakhs over a period of 3 years.

After receiving the equipment for SITs & ROTs, installation, commissioning is to be carried out to start the training work.

Creating Knowledge Data Centre (KDC) at Anna University, Chennai

The project envisages establishment of a Knowledge Data Centre to provide services like e-education, digital library & technology resource centre for students and community of Tamilnadu. The project is in early stage of implementation Anna University is collaborating with Sun Microsystems to execute the project on turnkey basis. Infrastructure and web content development for educational content access for 50,000 100,000 students in first phase and then provide resources to tie up collaborative e- content courses for students and community.

Contact Person:

Dr Govind
Scientist 'G'
Department of Information Technology
Ministry of Communications & Information Technology
Electronics Niketan, 6, CGO Complex, New Delhi - 110 003
Telephone: +91-11-24365434
TeleFax: +91-11-24365434
e-mail: drgovind AT nic.in,
govind.gac AT gmail.com