The state Information Technology (IT) department of Kerala is setting up a videoconferencing network in order to connect authorities such as the Secretariat, Kerala House in New Delhi and the district collectorates, as a part of a way to establish an effective technology-driven communication system within the government.
The aim of the network facility, being set up using the Modernising Government Programme (MGP) fund, is to help ministers and top officials to communicate with district collectors and vice-versa, connecting on either a person-to-person or group level. The network will also allow the public to participate in interactive programmes of government departments through the video conferencing facility in district collectorates.
The Kerala State Government has chosen Aethra to supply solutions for this project, thanks to the company's commitment to researching and developing innovative videoconferencing solutions. For this project Aethra has created a network comprised of 19 units of its Vega Star Silver-E and three of its Vega Star Gold. Both solutions are high-quality set-top video conferencing systems that are ideal for medium and large-sized sessions. The Vega Star Silver-E's integrated Multipoint Conferencing Unit (MCU) connects up to five sites in mixed mode (for ISDN and IP video conferencing), with convenient dial-out and dial-in (Meet Me) configuration, while the continuous Presence feature enables participants at all sites to view one another simultaneously. The Vega Star Gold has a detached wide-angle camera with patented Voice Tracking feature making it easy to integrate into any videoconferencing environment that requires enhanced audio and video quality.
(Lee Baldock)
