Every major player in the telecom space appears to be upgrading their network infrastructure in an effort to provide last mile connectivity and a common platform for Internet, VoIP and cable television with video on demand services to consumers.

Dr Anand Agarwal, chief executive officer, Sterlite Optical Industries, said, "The average subscriber today has Internet, VoIP and cable TV, but through different service providers. The idea is to integrate all three services, reduce costs and offer better services. Service operators such as VSNL and Bharti can integrate telephone, high-speed internet and videos on demand services to ensure better connectivity at lower cost. BSNL has already completed 700-800,000 broadband connections till date.

Bharti and Tata Teleservices are also reported to be upgrading their infrastructure and installing copper cables for last mile connectivity to provide VoIP and Internet services," said Dr Agarwal, whose company controls 65 per cent of the fibre market. Cable TV operators are also adding internet and VoIP connections in order to provide cost-effective digital services, value-added features such as pay per view, electronic programme guide and triple play services.

At a recent seminar, Mr Ashok Mansukhani, executive vice-president, HTMT, insisted that cable TV would continue to dominate the entertainment arena even as technology was getting more advanced with direct-to-home and IPTV. Microsoft and Reliance Infocomm have already announced plans to work together to jointly create, test and deliver next-generation Internet Protocol (IP)-based television services using an upcoming IPTV solution being developed by Microsoft TV. Mr Hemang Mehta, group product manager, Microsoft TV, had recently said, "Television will sit alongside mobile and wireline services."

Experts have suggested that it is quite possible that within two to three years, over five million subscribers could be receiving IPTV services in India. "The entertainment and telecom industry is moving towards a single service provider for internet and cable TV with video on demand services. The service providers, in turn, are looking to capitalise on this opportunity. This would help decrease the total cost per user in a way similar to the explosion in cellular services," said Dr Agarwal.

While Reliance, Bharti, Tata and BSNL are in the race for broadband connectivity, experts suggest that those with landline access to subscribers stand to benefit the most. "Service providers like BSNL which has the advantage in this regard has the maximum roll out of cable based technology," added Dr Agarwal. While in the past, the last mile connectivity was being provided wirelessly, experts suggest that the trend today was to use fibre optics copper connections to provide broadband services.

Union minister of commerce and industry Kamal Nath said on Thursday that as food safety is a prime concern in the international trade in food products, the government is moving towards introducing an "integrated food law" to make the Indian food industry globally competitive.

The commerce minister said that the integrated food law will help meet the requirements of international trade. Mr Nath said, "the proposed legislation would aim at ensuring a proper management of the food safety system. It intends to set up a ‘single line of command’ from the present multi-level and multi-departmental control."

"There will be a single reference point for all matters relating to food safety and standards, regulations and enforcements," said Mr Nath. He was speaking at the 15th annual awards function of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) here on Thursday. During the year 2004-2005, the total agro exports, including plantations and marine products, registered an increase of 7 per cent over the previous year, informed Mr Nath. However, during the same period, the export of Apeda monitored products grew by about 15 per cent.

Mr Nath pointed out, "our share in the global trade in agro products, which is presently 1.4 per cent, is far below the potential in view of the fact that India possesses the largest area of irrigated land and we are the 3rd largest producer of food in the world."

Mr Nath also said that in the present product patent era, Indian companies, particularly those which are engaged in the speciality areas like bio-technology and herbal products, ought to work to expand their product portfolio through innovations. Mr Nath said that MNCs should launch their patentable products for a growth driven by high value, low volume products.

Reliance Communications and F-Secure Corp. (F-Secure), Finland, the PC and mobile anti-virus solution services major, could soon enter into a partnership to protect smart phones, high-end handhelds and PDAs, from viruses, trojans and other external attacks.

On Thursday, the two companies announced a partnership deal wherein F-Secure would provide data security services for Reliance broadband PC customers. "The talks are still in the preliminary stages between the two companies for the anti-virus mobile platform. Later this year, we could announce an anti-virus mobile solution platform for the Indian mobile market.

Talks with other mobile service providers cannot be ruled out," said sources close to the development. Even though the risk of catching viruses, worms or trojans, on the mobile phone is still negligible in comparison with that of PCs, the possibility of a virus attack on a mobile phone or a PDA or Smartphone can no longer be ruled out.

Mr Risto Siilasmaa, president and chief executive officer, F-secure, said, "Mobile viruses are spreading via Bluetooth, MMS and web downloads. Two years ago there were no mobile viruses, now there are 180 of them. We are yet to see viruses that are based on SMSs, mobile emails and P2Ps."

F-Secure has already entered into partnerships with mobile service providers abroad allowing subscribers to download their mobile anti-virus software directly onto mobile phones from the internet portal of the service provider. Anti-virus patches and updates are automatically provided via SMS for a nominal fee, while the anti-virus service is billed to the subscriber every month.

When this newspaper asked Tata Teleservices, if the company would be looking to provide anti-virus solutions for their mobile subscribers, Mr Pankaj Sethi, vice-president, content and applications, Tata Teleservices, said, "While the high-end handhelds and PDAs could need protection from viruses, the low-end mobiles that are Brew-enabled do not necessitate such a service since they are adequately tested."

According to sources, "Service operators were actively looking at the mobile market, especially the sales of smart phones and high-end handhelds, to reach a critical mass before deploying such anti-virus services in India." F-Secure had earlier reported that mobile anti virus would be an important part of the company’s offering as the 3G market picks up speed.