Date:12/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/08/12/stories/2006081204391500.htm

Back Telecom: Betting on expansion plans

Marketmen are of the view that the telecom majors will be in the thick of things in the days ahead, thanks to ambitious plans that many of them have lined up. As for the latest trends, they point towards the increase in the country's mobile subscriber base. The latter has moved up by over 5 per cent in July.

The market expects companies such as Aircel and Bharti to come up with key announcements. Aircel, the largest operator in Tamil Nadu, is planning a bigger national presence, while Bharti is proposing bilateral agreements in the long distance space. Reliance has slashed ILD rates and Idea has applied for more circles.

On the back of these, stocks such as Reliance, Tata Teleservices and Bharti Airtel witnessed surge in trading volumes.

Nilanjan Dey