Hough Replaces Eric Ericsson At Jt Mobile Helm

Frank D Hough has taken over as the acting president of JT Mobiles (JTM), a cellular phone licensee for Karnataka and Andhra with effect from Tuesday. This follows the return of Eric Ericsson to the Stockholm-based Telia AB.

Frank Hough, who was the vice president previously, said Ericsson had left India following the completion of his tenure. Ericsson, who was deputed to India to head the Indian operations for an initial period of two months, had got a one-month extension.

According to him, the new president will be announced soon after the JTM board meets in Singapore for convening the shareholders meet.

JTM comprises five partners which include Telia AB with a 26 per cent equity stake; Jasmine International (13 per cent), ToT of Thailand (10 per cent); Sanmar group (20 per cent) and United Telecom Ltd (31 per cent).

Ericsson, during his tenure as president, had spearheaded the process of laying a 4000-km backbone microwave network link, running across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The project is estimated to cost over Rs 600 crore.

Ericsson had also initiated talks with rival cellular operator Spice Telecom of Karnataka for a possible `co-operation' in forming and sharing the microwave backbone network.

JTM, which has a current subscribers base of around 10,000, has targetted a base of 20,000 by the end of 1997.

It is currently working on opening operations in Mysore. It had recently commenced work in Mangalore.

In Andhra, JTM has already opened its cellular network in Guntur and expects to open soon in Vizag.

JTM is holding talks with the Industrial Development Bank of India to generate the funds. The talks are progressing well. We hope to make a headway soon," Frank Hough said.