A solution to rural communication problems

The authors described the telecom scene in rural India and the approach taken by the centre for development of telematics (C-DOT), to modernise it. The C-DOT has come forward with a rural network consisting of rural automatic exchange (RAX), transit RAX (TRAX) and maintenance administration billing system (MABS). The RAX and TRAX employ digital switching. They are designing to function in adverse tropical climates without any special care-for example air conditioning. Though the rural network suits rural India, it applies equally well for the other developing countries. Initially, it aims at providing the basic minimum facilities for rural growth coupled with optimum resource utilisation. A case study of C-DOT RAX at Kittur, a village in Karnataka State, India, is presented