The Hindu Business Line : Tata Tele to launch pre-paid services in TN

TATA Teleservices Ltd, which is expanding infrastructure in Tamil Nadu, will soon launch pre-paid facility on its mobile and fixed line services, push-to-talk — a walkie-talkie style of communication — on mobile phones and Internet access on its fixed wireless phones.

Tata Teleservices, branded Tata Indicom, plans to spend over Rs 1,100 crore by March 2005 to expand coverage to over 145 towns and cities, according to its Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Tamil Nadu circle, Mr M.A. Madhusudan.

By the end of this year, it will have 2,700 km of highway covered to ensure that a subscriber is able to stay in touch over his Tata mobile anywhere along the highway and 4,300 km of communication backbone criss-crossing the State.

The infrastructure and its wide presence in cities and towns will ensure that Tata Indicom is within reach of 95 per cent of the potential customers for telecommunication services, he said.

The company has invested Rs 820 crore of the planned Rs 1,100 crore and the balance will be brought in by the year-end. The expanded network will mean it can offer one million direct exchange lines. Over 1.7 lakh subscribers use Tata Indicom services, and, of this, 1.2 lakh use the fixed wireless telephones and the rest mobiles, Mr Madhusudan said.

It has entered into an agreement with Qualcomm to use its BREWChat facility for push-to-talk services. Apart from walkie-talkie feature, customers can download games, ring tones and e-mail. Since these can be done on the data channel, the service will be attractively priced.

In May, it will launch Internet facility on its fixed wireless phones with billing on a `per minute basis.'

Tata Teleservices started operations in Tamil Nadu in November 2002. It operates in eight circles throughout India and will expand to 11 more circles.

Last year, it generated revenues of Rs 100 crore and with the expansion, the revenue will go up to Rs 350 crore. It will break even in four year's time, Mr Madhusudan said.

More Stories on : Telecommunications | Tamil Nadu

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