Tulip Services puts onstream Rs 180 cr IT backbone

Tulip IT Services has announced the operationalization of its Rs 180-crore computer network, built to connect workplaces of businesses like banks, retailers, media companies etc.

The company, which went public three months ago, has connected 350 cities across India and claims to be the only one offering wireless connectivity to the network.

"A number of leading corporate and banks have already signed-up for utilising the services and we aim to expand the network to over 500 cities by end of calendar year 2006," Tulip said in a notice to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The company claimed that it had lived up to its promise, made at the time of its Rs 108 crore IPO, of rapidly expanding activities, post the fund-raising.

"With today's launch, the company has set up India's largest MPLS-based variable speed data network in a very short time span and aims to capture a large part of the data connectivity market."

The company's inter-city network is based on optical fiber cable provided by multiple services providers. The last mile connectivity is entirely based on wireless, using radio frequency technology in point-to-point and point-to-multipoint applications.

In addition to permanent connectivity to corporates, the company will also provide other value added services like video conferencing, bandwidth-on-demand and disaster recovery.

"With this launch, the company is targeting to become a leading player in managed data services to businesses," it said in the notification.