ARM to provide connectivity in villages via MARS

In its bid to connect a large number of villages, Hyderabad-based Advanced Radio Masts Pvt Ltd (ARM), is all set to facilitate its Multi Access Rural Radio (MARR) system communication equipment for Tata Teleservices. The MARS equipment will be used to interconnect more than 500 locations in the remote areas of villages within the state over the next
two months and the project is worth more than Rs 1 crore.

"Tata Teleservices was looking for a low cost solution to provide connectivity for the remote areas and MARS is such a solution which fits in absolutely right. This system fits in well because in all the places DOT switches are already there, so this equipment can be connected and the basic connectivity can be given in the rural areas," said, Brigadier Krishna Nandan, VSM and MD, ARM.

Initially the project is being undertaken within the Nellore and the Eastern Godawari districts and if proved to be successful then the same project will be extended to other parts of the state as well. In all more than 500 Village Public Telephones (VPTs) will be covered by MARS which transmits at 9.6 Kbit data rate for connectivity.

The ARM Analog Multi Access Rural Radio (MARR) system facilitates linking of the telephone exchange with 36 subscribers located within 30 Kms radius from the exchange via 4 VHF radio channels. The system consists of a Base Station Unit (BSU) and a Remote Subscriber unit (RSU). The BSU interfaces with the exchange and routes incoming as well as the outgoing calls apart from passing other information. 

This unit comprises of two bays- the Concentrator Bay, which is controlled by a microcontroller, concentrates 36 subscriber lines of exchange to four 2 wire lines towards radio bay and communicates with radio bay on serial interface. The radio bay employs four radio units, a control unit, an antenna coupler unit and a power supply unit with hot standby.

"The RSUs which are located in remote areas interact with other subscribers through BSU via RF media where land line is uneconomical. The subscriber can initiate the call if at least one channel is free. So this system is ideal for remote locations where land lines cannot be laid," he added.

ARM was incorporated in 1956 with a vision of shaping it as a major telecom company in the Indian sub-continent and with the primary objective of manufacturing indigenously various types of Telecom equipment, antennas for HF, VHF, UHF and Microwave frequency bands and towers/masts required for telecom services.

The company has grown over the years with strong in-house R&D and has broadened its product range to cover a broad spectrum of telecom products and accessories. ARM today has 4 Manufacturing units, five service divisions apart from R&D Center in Hyderabad, empowered by an Intellectual capital of over 860 employees.

The Company has earned the distinction of one-stop-shop to meet the needs for emerging communication equipment and related services for cellular, fixed line, Internet and satellite operators. 

(CNS)