Ahmedabad: Gujarat Friday became the first state in India where video phone services have been launched on a commercial basis.

After providing the services in the state on experimental basis for about six months, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), in association with Sai Info Systems India Limited (SIS), formally launched the service on commercial basis. The service was unveiled by Sam Pitroda, the advisor to the prime minister on Infrastructure, Innovation and Information.

Booking will open throughout the state Saturday and service would be available from next month.

Pitroda said though the country had over 550 million landline telephone connections, there were only just about 10 million broadband connections and video telephony would help to raise the demand for broadband connections to achieve the first target of at least 100 million connections in the next three to five years. This, in turn, would boost up the country's information infrastructure.

Speaking at the launch, SIS' chief managing director Sunil Kakkad said that though video conferencing has been in the market for quite some time, the high equipment and service costs have limited its use to certain sections.

"With determined efforts, added dimensions of affordability and any time availability, SIS and BSNL have made it possible for a common man to enjoy benefits of similar services. The service will be available over the BSNL broadband."

A BSNL spokesman said that initially, the service will be available to BSNL customers in Gujarat and for customers across the country by April.