January 30, 2008	Wednesday	Muharram 20, 1429

LAHORE, Jan 29: The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has procured a DVB-RCS satellite system to efficiently provide its over 350 swift registration centres in the country with an access to the national database.

In addition to that the authority has expanded its network infrastructure capability to provide voice, data and video triple-play access to planned initiatives and services that require nationwide access.

The authority said on Tuesday that the Rs93 million project covered commissioning of third generation VSAT system, including one HUB, installed in Islamabad and 200 remote terminals across the country. This deployment enabled the authority to gain the operational efficiency as well as reduction in the existing communication cost.

“The acquisition of this technology has also enabled the authority to cater to the security required to manage the national database and other services on a par with international standards.

“The existing terrestrial network infrastructure was designed on the initial data acquisition philosophy hence mesh architecture existed which could only connect eight core regions with fail safe scenario. The network infrastructure was unable to facilitate the growing business demands and futuristically challenging technical requirements. After acquiring the DVB-RCS system the capacity and design of old network infrastructure has also been optimised, resulting in reduction in the network operational costs.”

It said that a comprehensive and generic EOI was floated to acquire the DVB-RCS technology. As many as 29 foreign and local vendors and operators expressed their interest and proposed different terrestrial and satellite-based broadband technologies.

It said that M/s British Telecom was chosen owing to its lower financial cost and proven technical strengths. As a result SKYARCS DVBRCS-based system was deployed to fulfill critical requirements and future initiatives of the authority.

“The satellite-based system has been carefully chosen to meet the requirement of network outreach, manageability, security and 99 per cent availability. The system is providing mainstream network connectivity to swift centres, motorway toll plazas for vehicle identification project, Afghan refugees registration centres working under the UNHCR, banks, passport offices and other government offices.”

It said Nadra was now capable of offering triple-play connectivity to other institutions as well. It said a TV channel had signed a contract with the authority to acquire the facility for media coverage of Feb 18 elections. Around 25 sites of the TV channel would use the facility and later the same infrastructure would be permanently used to provide live coverage of different events for the channel.

“Within Nadra, the system is operational on sites where other solutions are not available. With this enhanced capability the authority has successfully entered the league of world-class service providers.”