The Hindu Business Line : ByCell earmarks Rs 2,000 cr for expansion

New Delhi, Oct. 12 Even as the Government is yet to decide on the fate of the 500 applications it has received for offering telecom services in the country, some of the companies are making their investment plans. ByCell Telecommunications India, which has also applied for a pan-India telecom licence, has said that it has earmarked Rs 2,000 crore for its expansion in the telecom sector.

The company is a 74:26 joint venture company between ByCell Holding AG, Switzerland, and Bitcorp Pvt Ltd.

It had applied for telecom licences for five circles – Assam, North East, West Bengal, Orissa and Bihar in 2006 making it among the first in the line where 30 other companies are in the fray. ByCell has since applied for 17 more circles recently.

Mr Andrey Polouektov, Director, ByCell Telecommunications India (Pvt) Ltd, said: “Our team’s experience allows ByCell to bring the best practices from around the world to India, therefore delivering a superior customer communications experience particularly to the low income rural areas.”

Mr Alexandre Louzine, Vice President - Operations, ByCell Telecommunications, said: “India is experiencing exponential growth in the telecom sector, and ByCell would certainly like to capture the momentum. I see the potential in Indian rural markets similar to the ones I experienced in Afghanistan, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Leone and Sierra.”

ByCell Holding AG is a Swiss-based telecommunications company set up in 2005. It represents a multi-national consortium which brings together experience in building, operating and financing wireless, fixed line and data networks.