Future Group aims Rs 200-300 cr from telecom venture

Kishore Biyani-led Future Group today said its telecom venture launched under the brand 'T24' would add Rs 200-300 crore to its topline within a year, even as it plans to open seven more Big Bazaar stores in the northern region.

"The T24 mobile service is expected to add Rs 200 to Rs 300 crore to Future Group's total sales which is (pegged at) Rs 10,000 crore," Future Group CEO (Telecom) Mayur Toshniwal told reporters here, after launching T24 mobile services in Punjab and Haryana.

Future Group rolled its GSM mobile service under T24 brand in alliance with Tata Teleservices last year and it is currently providing mobile services in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh.

"T24 mobile service is targeted at a very niche market...Our focus is on shoppers, especially women who like to shop in our stores and this service will increase the loyalty we enjoy among millions of customers who patronise our stores," he said.

T24 offers per second rates for pre-paid customers on the Tata Teleservices network.

The main highlight of this mobile service is that customers will be rewarded with free talk time for shopping in Big Bazaars or Pantaloon stores at certain price levels.

For example, if a customer spends Rs 2,001 in Big Bazaar, he/she would gain Rs 84 worth free talk time. Customers will also be rewarded with special deals and promotional schemes at Future Group stores every time they buy paid recharge.

"The mobile connection will be available at Future Group stores such as Big Bazaar, while recharge vouchers will be available at all Tata Teleservices stores," he said.

Since the launch of T24 last year, the company has made a subscribers base of 6 lakh.

"We will soon roll out our services in Rajasthan, Mumbai, MP, Chhattisgarh...By March, we will have presence in all circles," he said.

Future Group also plans to open more Big Bazaar stores in Punjab and Haryana to deepen its penetration. "We will open Big Bazaar stores in Ludhiana, Baddi, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Mohali, Rohtak and Yamunanagar," he said.

Future Group has Big Bazaar stores in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Bathinda, Zirakpur, Ambala and Panipat.