Ex-owner of IceNet may venture into IPTV

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| Chirag Mehta is one such entrepreneur. The former chief executive officer and managing director of IceNet, which has been acquired by Citigroup-owned YOU Telecom, is already evaluating opportunities in the business. Mehta will take care of the Gujarat operations of the consolidated company, he has his own plans. |
| "It is good that IceNet is merging into a larger entity with a national footprint and larger resource pool. We have our experience and branding in this market and they are bringing their latest technology. |
| As of now I have to stay here and help YOU Telecom manage the Gujarat operations and provide consultation for some of their national activities. But I have to capitalise on my experience and my strength in this sector and I would try to do that through my own venture which will definitely be in the internet technology sector," said Mehta. |
| Mehta is hopeful that he may have to stay on for around a year or so till all of IceNet's subscribers have migrated to YOU Telecom. |
| "Once the migration of subscribers is over, I can get into my venture which will be in the internet technology or data security business only but I will not be doing anything that I used to do till now, like being an ISP or providing VoIP technology. Maybe IPTV could be one of the possibilities," added Mehta. |
| However, Mehta said that he is yet to put down on paper the plans for his new venture. "My plans will materialise after I am done with the migration of our subscribers or as long as my services are required here at YOU Telecom," said Mehta. Mehta's designation is yet to be finalised. |
| According to Mehta, by acquiring IceNet, YOU Telecom gets around 10,000 of its broadband subscribers, 200 enterprise subscribers and around 15,000 dial-up subscribers. Both the companies have not disclosed the acquisition amount as yet. |
First Published: May 16 2007 | 12:00 AM IST