Mumbai: Due to the frequent glitches in the air navigation system that have been taking place from time to time due to poor service providers, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which controls air navigation and operates most of the country's civil aviation airports, is looking towards the railways for help in ensuring that planes fly safely and on time in the upper airspace.
According to highly-placed sources, the AAI is in 'various early stages' of talks with RailTel for its infrastructure broadband and application service needs, as part of its upper airspace harmonisation programme, which is being rolled out in stages across the country. Kolkata and Chennai have already been covered under the programme, with Mumbai expected to be integrated in the next phase.
"Before Mumbai gets integrated, there is a need for reliable data services infrastructure system. We are hoping that the entire country, including Mumbai, gets covered by the end of the year," said a senior official from the communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) department of the AAI, which is responsible for maintaining infrastructure related to air navigation systems.
RailTel Corporation, which is a 'Mini Ratna' public sector unit, claims to be one of the largest neutral telecom infrastructure providers in the country, owning a pan-India optic fiber network on exclusive right of way along railway tracks. Private companies lack reach and connectivity in comparison to it.
11/04/16 Shahkar Abidi/Daily News & Analysis
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According to highly-placed sources, the AAI is in 'various early stages' of talks with RailTel for its infrastructure broadband and application service needs, as part of its upper airspace harmonisation programme, which is being rolled out in stages across the country. Kolkata and Chennai have already been covered under the programme, with Mumbai expected to be integrated in the next phase.
"Before Mumbai gets integrated, there is a need for reliable data services infrastructure system. We are hoping that the entire country, including Mumbai, gets covered by the end of the year," said a senior official from the communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) department of the AAI, which is responsible for maintaining infrastructure related to air navigation systems.
RailTel Corporation, which is a 'Mini Ratna' public sector unit, claims to be one of the largest neutral telecom infrastructure providers in the country, owning a pan-India optic fiber network on exclusive right of way along railway tracks. Private companies lack reach and connectivity in comparison to it.
11/04/16 Shahkar Abidi/Daily News & Analysis
