Established in 2003, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) is responsible for the distribution of electricity in eight districts of Karnataka: Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Kolar, Tumkur, Chitradurga, Davangere, Ramanagaram and Chikballapura. In 2010-11, the company supplied 18,736 MUs to a consumer base of 7.5 million.

While a robust telecom infrastructure has been an integral part of the company’s set-up since its inception, its utilisation has been limited. Thus, with the twin aims of optimising network performance and streamlining voice and data communications between all its offices, BESCOM took a number of steps to overhaul its communications infrastructure.

tele.net takes a look at the company’s telecom-related initiatives…

Legacy system

According to Nagalakshmi S.V., general manager, IT and management information systems, the company’s communication system initially comprised a public switched telephone network and an integrated services digital network set-up for voice-based communication. The company also made use of fax machines. For data-based communication, BESCOM utilised various stand-alone application software in the client server model.

Thereafter, in the 1990s, the company established a local area network for data-centric communication between its various offices, and between its branch offices and headquarters. As the next step, BESCOM began using mobile handsets at different administrative levels. Also, its metropolitan area network, called BMAZ, was interconnected (to a limited extent) via leased data circuits for data transfer.

Current set-up

BESCOM currently has a multi-tiered communications set-up in place. This was enabled by the central government’s flagship scheme, the Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Pro-

gramme (R-APDRP), which provides upfront grants for deploying IT-based communications systems in state power distribution utilities. Under the programme, new infrastructure was set up in select towns of BESCOM’s distribution circle for data connectivity. For voice, a wireless network connected via high frequency devices was implemented two years ago, in addition to the existing communication nodes in BMAZ.

At present, BESCOM has a wide area (WAN) network in 25 towns, including Bengaluru, which has been implemented under the R-APDRP. It covers around 160 of its offices while the remaining are connected via the internet. An MPLS-leased line is being used to connect rural areas and new infrastructure like desktop computers, printers and internet connectivity is being provided.

For last mile access, BESCOM has launched a wireless communication project across the organisation, which is 90 per cent complete. Currently, an optical fibre cable network and a copper-based network are used, depending upon the location.

Meanwhile, for WAN connectivity, the organisation is using routers, switches and modems. It also uses integrated enterprise resource planning applications. For network security, it uses Symantec’s antivirus platform and Juniper’s firewall system.

Various software applications, primarily Oracle’s product-based platforms, are also used. Network bandwidth varies, depending upon the requirements at the company’s offices. BESCOM utilises the services of Reliance Communications and Hughes Communications for its networking needs.

For video-based communication, the company’s primary rate interface and basic rate interface platforms are being used for conducting videoconferences with offices in remote locations. For internal communication, social media platforms such as Facebook are being used since the past one year. According to Nagalakshmi, the company’s telecom network extends to all its offices. While all employees can access the network at its corporate office, around 70 to 80 per cent of employees have network access in its remote offices.

Challenges and benefits

Adopting new technologies is one of the major challenges that the company faces as the process requires adequate analysis. Lack of awareness of rapidly changing technology is another issue. “As BESCOM has shifted from manufacturing to the service sector, the usage of information as a resource and implementation of latest technical innovations have been the major challenges. Also, surveying the current and proposed infrastructure, and ensuring that it is properly aligned to meet the company’s requirements is an issue,” says Nagalakshmi.

The challenges notwithstanding, the company benefited significantly by upgrading its telecom set-up. It achieved connectivity across the organisation, including in rural areas; increased the scope of its existing management information systems and was able to implement a centralised data management system with controlled and secured access; and made its day-to-day administration processes more efficient and cost effective. Also, data storage platforms (which are a part of the computerisation process) have enabled integrated control of the supply and value chain processes.

In sum, an improved telecom set-up has helped BESCOM to efficiently manage its information assets and to connect with its customers and stakeholders.