Sistema Shyam Teleservices to launch smartphones in Bengal

Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd (SSTL), the telecom joint venture (JV) between Russia-based Sistema and India-based Shyam Group, is set to launch smartphones in the eastern region with the next month.

SSTL, which currently delivers CDMA mobile services under the MTS brand across 20 circles, has a major play in the data business, which the company believes will drive the smartphones business as well.

“We will launch our first play in the smartphones segment within the next month. We are a major player in the data segment, which drives the smartphone business as well,” said Keshhav Tiwary, COO-Kolkata & West Bengal circle, MTS India.

Tiwary, further said, that that company expects the smartphone segment to do well in the urban areas, especially Kolkata, north Bengal including Siliguri, and Durgapur and Asansol.

“We have an aggressive product selling and marketing strategy in place, which would signify that we expect good growth numbers over the next year,” Tiwary said, refusing to divulge the target unit sales that the company is eyeing.

Keeping in mind the dominant space that the Android platform occupies now, the company will launch its Smartphones on its space as well.

MTS on Tuesday launched its 3rd customised shopping mall store in Kolkata. This is a unique concept, claimed the company which allows the consumer to access the entire basket of the MTS product under one shop.

Interestingly, MTS, which was earlier planning an initial public offer (IPO) by September has been forced to postpone the IPO due to shaky market conditions and the turbulence in the telecom sector.

The telecom sector which has come under intense scrutiny lately on the back of the 2G scam, where the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) estimated loss of Rs 1.70 lakh crore to exchequer.

The sector is currently the focus of several investigations in the context of allocation of 2G licences.