The Hindu Business Line : C&W to expand India businesses

TELECOM company Cable & Wireless hasplans to invest about $7-10 million over the next 18 months for expanding Indian operations including Centre of Excellence (CoE) and adding nodes.

"We have already pumped in up to $10 million in India, and plan to invest another $7-10 million over the next 18 months for expanding our current lines of business.

The investment would go into expanding our Centre of Excellence, adding nodes and points of presence and adding international capacity," Mr Phil Green, CEO (Japan/Asia) of Cable & Wireless IDC Inc, told Business Line.

In India, Cable & Wireless operates in two lines of business - offering managed network services to global clients from the Bangalore CoE, and providing the services in the domestic market.

The company, which currently has about 120 employees in India including 100 professionals in CoE in Bangalore, expects to double its headcount in 12-18 months.

With the headcount swelling to 240 professionals in about 18 months, the CoE strength would grow to about 150 and the balance would be focussing sales and support engineering.

"We are considering expanding the CoE and the new centres could either be located in Mumbai or Delhi," he added.

The CoE focuses on offering technical support as well as remotely managing networks of global clients.

The company, which currently has three nodes in Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore, plans to add Delhi and Hyderabad nodes by month end.