Chennai, India based Gemini Communication Ltd (GCL), a communication and networking solutions provider has secured a Rs 750 million contract from TNEB for the computerization of 1725 collection centres under its BEST (Billing for Essential Services in TNEB) program. This initiative forms the second phase of the project and is likely to benefit over 15 million consumers.

Commenting on the deal, Vijay Kumar, managing director, GCL said, "TNEB has saved significantly in terms of cost in allowing people to be innovative in their network design. They had proposed the bandwidth required for every single region and the mode of connectivity was left with the concerned design company to propose. This brings out the best for TNEB as innovative and cost effective technology could be used, thus benefiting TNEB."

Gemini's proposed solution is based on 95% wireless and 5% leased lines. The remote rural office of TNEB will be connected to a circle office and the circle office will be connected to the regional office. In the first phase, GCL had already deployed the servers and storage products for this network.

For the leased lines, GCL has approached Railtel and other private service providers. The project could consume more than 4500 modems and GCL is using PointRed wireless modems.