RailTel Corporation of India Limited has received a work order worth Rs 1.13 billion by Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) to establish an internet protocol (IP)-multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network connectivity in Odisha under OdishaNet Phase 1.0.
The OdishaNet Phase 1.0 is proposed to provide IP-MPLS connectivity from state headquarter (SHQ) to each district headquarters (DHQs) utilising the spare fibres of optical ground wire (OPGW) cable of Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL).
The project work includes provision of supply and installation of IP-MPLS data networking infrastructure leveraging the available underutilised OPGW cable of OPTCL to build a reliable IP-MPLS network up to the district headquarters, extending underground last mile on fibre from OPTCL point-of-presence (PoP) to DHQ. The proposed infrastructure is for future state-wide area network (SWAN) IP-MPLS. In addition, the provision for additional alternating current (AC) and diesel generator (DG) sets to upgrade the SWAN infrastructure are also included in the scope of work.
The end links are proposed from the OPTCL grid to the district collector’s office, where the district PoPs will be co-located with the Odisha State Wide Network (OSWAN) PoP. In due course, this PoP will be shifted to a new PoP proposed in the collector’s office. The end links to the district collector’s office will be underground with an average length of nearly 5 km per district. Though the fibre network will not be in a ring, the reliability of OPGW cable is good enough to give the network uptime of more than 99 per cent.
In addition, the network will be IP-MPLS utilising carrier grade state-of-the-art routers and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology. The network will be scalable and has provision for expansion as the demand grows. Thus, Phase I of Odisha Net 1.0 will be a steppingstone for future growth of connectivity in the state, and subsequently the network will be expanded to the blocks/villages.
Further, the performance monitoring of the network will be carried out from the existing SNOC. The proposed network should have its own element management system (EMS) to be integrated to the SNOC for service provisioning and monitoring of the network. The network is meant for use by the government for any government-to-government (G2G) applications. However, the surplus bandwidth could be commercially leased to earn revenue. In due course, it could be extended to the gram panchayats, and villages through the blocks. All the networks leased from the operators by various departments could be considered for surrender once this network gets commissioned. Furthermore, the internet bandwidth could be centrally leased and extended to districts and all horizontal offices resulting in economy of scale for the leased internet bandwidth.
