Christened "Polnet", the network will enable instant voice, data and fax communication between police stations within the country. In addition, the system will enable quick and unhindered border communication between districts of adjoining states.

Kamalesh Deka Inspector General, communications, Border Security Force (BSF), said the system is based on satellite/radio and will provide flexibility during natural calamities. The network will be set up at a cost of nearly Rs 140 crore and will involve an annual expense of Rs 17 crore.

Deka added that the process of implementation of the network has started and tenders for supplying the equipment will be issued soon. "With transportable V-SAT terminals, it will be possible to establish communication at a short notice from any location as and when required," he said.

Dekaexpects the new system to improve efficiency and save a considerable amount to the exchequer. It will also help the police to reduce their dependence on the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) network The system architecture of Polnet involves location of a hub station in Delhi and the installation of demand assigned multiple access (DAMA)/time division multiplexed (TDM) and time division multiple access (TDMA) hybrid V-SAT terminals in state headquarters and TDM/TDMA terminals in districts.

Within the district, communication is proposed through a radio dialling network to give connectivity to police stations. Polnet will provide the police with a station-to-station dialling network over the entire country connecting 11,502 police stations.

A major role of Polnet will be to integrate the computers already installed in the districts as a part of the Crime Criminal Information System (CCIS), which in turn will integrate the district crime record office with the state crime record office and national crimerecord office in Delhi. The entire network will also be hooked up to the International Computer Setup of Interpol.

Deka said considering the expenditure of police in terms of long distance call charges and hot lines, "it is expected that the savings will outbalance the investment within two years".

"As enforcement of law and order has a direct bearing on the development process in the country, Polnet will definitely be a very important national information infrastructure in the years to come," he added.

At present, the police telecommunication system maintains more than 88,000 regular wireless stations for connecting every nook and corner of the country.