The Gazette of India-Extraordinary
25th July 1998
ANNEXURE
- INTERNET access nodes will be opened by DoT and authorised ISPs at all District Headquarters and local charging areas by 26th January 2000. As an interim measure, and till nodes are provided in all local charging areas, access to nearest INTERNET access nodes will be on local call rates, progressively with effect from 15th August 1998. ISPs will be responsible for ensuring that this facility is not misused for telephone traffic.
- Voice & Data Communication is permitted for IT Software Development and IT Services on dedicated or leased circuits, but no telephone traffic is permitted. Surcharge on 64 Kbps and higher capacity circuits for voice-cum-data applications is withdrawn with effect from 15th August 1998.
- Doubling of the lease rental charged by DOT for high speed data circuits leased by Closed User Group (CUG), Licensees of Basic Service, Cellular Service and other Value Added Services and users shall be reduced to single normal lease rental charge.
- Requests made by public sector Software Technology Park (STPs) or Private Sector STPs or IT promotional organisations approved by the Government for release of bandwidth shall be acted upon by the VSNL by intimating INTELSAT within two weeks of receipt. Software Technology Park of India (STPI) and Government network Service Providers shall be given a status of Direct Access Provider Category III to enable them to send their bandwidth requirements directly to INTELSAT.
- Setting up of Central call centres by IT Service Providers shall be permitted for which DOT and other Basic telecom Service Providers will make available bandwidth.
- Intelligent Network (IN) Services including free phone and premium Service (e.g. 1-800 and 1-900) shall be introduced by DoT by 31 December 1998 in several cities.
- For setting up ISP Operations by companies, there shall be no license fee for the first five years and after five years a nominal license fee of one rupee will be charged.
- The monopoly of the VSNL on International Gateway for INTERNET shall be withdrawn and authorised public/government organisations will be allowed to provide INTERNET Gateway access including international leased circuits directly without going through VSNL Gateways. Private ISPs are allowed to provide such Gateways after obtaining Security clearances for which the Interface of Private ISPs shall only be with DOT, which will set up a mechanism for obtaining security clearance from different security agencies.