Bharti to offer basic telephony in TN

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, SEPT. 24. Bharti Telenet, (Tamil Nadu Circle), a part of Bharti Enterprises, will commence its telephony services in Tamil Nadu in December AND will cover nearly 45 per cent of the total area of Chennai alone. Within a year, it proposes to cover 75 per cent.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. K. Krishnan, Chief Executive Officer, Bharti Telenet (Tamil Nadu circle), said in three-four years, the entire State would be covered and would extend its services to other major cities such as Comibatore, Erode, Maduari, Triuchi, Salem, Triuppur, Vellore and Hosur before March next. The initial investment, he said, would be about Rs. 800 crores, which would take care of the requirements during the first two-three years. As the company expanded its network and services, it would invest another Rs. 550 crores. Singapore Telecom was supporting the project both technically and financially, he added.

Mr. Krishnan said Bharti was in the process of laying the optical fibre cable network in Chennai. Of the 1000 km, it had so far laid about 150 km. The company was planning to offer basic telephony, ISDN, leased line, digital subscriber line, intelligent network solutions and other value added services.

Mr. Krishnan said Bharti Telecom had entered into a joint venture with Singapore Tele International for laying submarine cable for long distance operation project between India and Singapore. The route survey for the project was yet to be completed. Upon completion, it would take about a month to lay the undersea cable. The cost of the project was estimated at Rs. 2,000 crores. The partners involved in the project were Singapore Telecom, EM Warburg pincus of the U.S., New York Life International, and Asia Infrastructure fund.

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Section  : Business
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