Sify plans one-PC cafes, 2,000 more iWays

As part of its plan to expand in the Indian internet service retail business, net service provider Sify is planning to venture into single-PC internet kiosk business, besides opening 2,000 additional outlets of its iWay internet cafe chain.

"We have started a pilot project in single-PC internet kiosk format and have tied up with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai to provide customer facilities. We are planning to take this format to all the metros and are in talks with some government agencies," Sify National Head (Expansion) Aman Mehra told PTI.

He said the company has approached the Department of Information Technology (DIT) for collaboration in the project.

"We are also expanding our iWay chain with plans to set up 2,000 more internet cafes by 2009-10, up from the existing 3,000 outlets. For the iWay project, we are focussing on Tier II and III cities where net penetration is still low and we would try to have uniform rate for all customers," Mehra said.

All the new single-PC internet kiosks and iWay outlets would be franchise operated and all investments would come from Sify's franchise partners.

Sify's single-PC kiosks would be low-investment manned outlets, providing 45 services including internet, VOIP, travel booking and online bill payment, Mehra added.