Chennai, February 25: Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL), Chennai, will offer high-speed Internet (ISDN Internet) service to its ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) subscribers from the next week, whereby users can download information at the rate of 64 kbps or 128 kbps - which is five to ten times faster than the normal speed. They can get immediate access through the ISDN number and the cost of operation is drastically reduced.The Internet option will be added to the existing ISDN facilities of providing voice, data and image in the same network. ISDN allows use of eight terminals on the same line. (All electronic exchanges in the city provide the ISDN service in 90 per cent of the areas).VSNL will charge Rs 5,500 (in addition to a one-time registration fee of Rs.5,000) for 100 hours of use at 64 kbps, and Rs 11,000 for 100 hours of use at 128 kbps. This will be particularly useful to software professionals.It will also introduce 250, 500 and 1,500 hour blocks for corporate customers.In thepresent dial up system where 11,500 subscribers vie with each other for access to 650 lines, VSNL charges Rs 3,000 for 100 hours of use, and the speed is only 14.4 kbps (sometimes dipping to 9.6 kbps). The ISDN Internet service has a differential cost of Rs 2,500 and offers five times that speed.If a subscriber spends Rs 30 an hour on teh Net to download information in a normaly, it can be done in 12 minutes for Rs 11 in an ISDN internet connection.This service will score over the lease line connection also. It costs a few lakhs to get a dedicated line to the VSNL. But with ISDN you get an automatic 24 hour access.ISDN Internet has already been introduced in Mumbai and will soon hit Bangalore and New Delhi.
