Reason for lack of adequate infrastructure for offering Internet services in the country rests with DoT, member convenor of the NTF on IT, N Seshagiri said here recently.

Finding it very difficult to convince DoT on its shortcomings he told the technology summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) that ``we cannot convince the department by reasoning alone.''

Lambasting the agencies which created bottlenecks in the growth path of IT industry, Seshagiri said ``these agencies should be fought for being irrational.'' Internet-based services from India have a definite edge over others, he said, adding, releasing Internet sector from administrative hurdles would spawn over 100 Internet service providers in the country within 18 months.

Drawing parallelsbetween the present demand for Internet access and growth of cable industry in the past, Seshagiri said cable networks expanded rapidly in early 90s forcing the government to frame laws. Referring to the difficulties faced by small IT companies in financing, he asked for the right kind of venture capital support structure for IT entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, the government has signed a MoU with the US educational institute IUNET to establish a national, high-speed, inter-university data network named `Sankhya Vahini' in the country.

The network, to be funded jointly by the Indian government, Iunet and Carneig Mellon Univerisity, would be ready within a year, Seshagiri said.