Ideal for rural India where laying communication infrastructure is expensive, the system is low cost (Rs 1.2 crore), offers cellphone mobility and comes complete with a billing system. The system follows the AMPS technology and subscribers would have to buy the handsets. It can be used to make outstation and international calls, faxes and e-mails as well - linked to DoT infrastructure where the network stops. Telephone calls within the state having a network of IWill systems at radii of 30 km, will be virtually free.

Earlier, President Telecom was planning to deal independently with a number of entrepreneurs whowould purchase the system and instal it in a desired locality to serve adjacent villages. Rather than deal with hundreds of such buyers and check out on their bona fides to ensure even distribution, it has decided to target a single egency in the state who would take up the onerous task. According to President Telecom CEO J Vijay Singh, state government agencies having links with rural areas would be preferred.

The state agency would have the option of choosing the service providers within the state. The latter would get the income on a revenue sharing basis with DoT which has fixed it at 0.36 per cent of the call rate.

In Maharashtra, the government is routing the distribution through its sugar cooperatives with some help from the state electronics corporation which would help with the survey. The project is expected to be set up in phases for total networking.

The Karnataka government has already placed the order for two IWILL equipment (each unit costs Rs 1.2 crore) for trials in hilly plantationareas of Coorg. The trials are likely to be completed in a couple of months when subsequently orders would be placed to ensure distribution throughout the state.

The UP government has also agreed to purchase equipment and is finalising the order this month. The Orissa government has also expressed keenness to try out the IWill systems.

In Tamil Nadu, President Telecom would zero down on the agent by this month. Meanwhile, the state electricity board has also expressed interest for a closed user group application. The system is expected to find takers in areas where traffic is low and communication bad -- like coastguard vessels, fisheries, port trusts, forests, and even moving buses.