New Delhi: Saankhya, a Bengaluru-based startup is on the verge of giving wings to the Modi government's 'Digital India' project by developing a highly sophisticated chip called 'Pruthvi'. Realising that the highly ambitious project can be a reality only if the country's rural is brought under the internet coverage, Saankhya focused on using the wasted spectrum bandwidth of Television to beam internet signals.

Pruthvi, the postage stamp-sized chip has the potential to charge a system which can utilize the TV's wasted spectrum bandwidth and emit internet signals. Once the system is in place, India can graduate into an internet hub in no time.

However, Google with its Project Loon had tried to envelope remote areas with internet using giant balloons. Facebook too with its Aquila is bringing remote areas under internet network.

But Saankhya can beat the likes of Google and Facebook if their endeavor tastes success.

With TV population in India rising to 89 per cent, the Pruthvi-chip powered system, Meghdoot, can utilize the available bandwidth for providing wireless broadband service to remote, rural areas.

TV bandwidth communication system boasts of a reach as far as 10-30kms from a single station.

The company is planning to conduct feasibility trials in the US, the Philippines, Singapore and other countries.

The Meghdoot product consists of two things, a base station and a user-side modem that makes use of the TV White Space spectrum from 400 to 800MHz in order to provide Wireless Rural Broadband.

Founded by Parag Naik, Hemant Mallapur and Vishwakumara Kayargadde, Saankhya Labs, was founded in 2007 and is all set to conduct trials across the country.

They have inked deals with like IIT-Hyderabad, IIT-Delhi and IIT-Bombay for pilot run of the project. In a bid to digitalise India, discussions are underway with technology giant, Microsoft, to carry out field trials at Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh.

(Picture Courtesy: www.medialabs.in)