Global communications major Cable & Wireless (C&W) has received provisional security clearance to provide national long distance (NLD) and international long distance (ILD) telecommunications services in the country. The UK-based company is gearing up to start operations by the end of this year.
The approvals bring C&W into the league of global players like AT&T, British Telecom, France Telecom (through its subsidiary Orange Business Services) and Verizon, who are already offering the services in the country.
| FOREIGN CONNECTIONS | |
| Company |
Indian Partner |
| France Telecom | Emery Technologies |
| AT&T | Mahindra Group |
| British Telecom | Jubilant Group |
| Verizon | Videocon |
| C&W | TTK group |
C&W Managing Director (India & South Asia) Sunanda Das confirmed the development and said the company has received provisional security clearance from the Department of Telecommunications(DoT), while the final approval is expected within a month.
“We intend to start services by this December, if not earlier. We are looking at providing services to top corporations who bring in traffic from outside the country and also to those taking traffic outside India,” Das added.
C&W, which is partnering Bangalore-based TTK Group to roll out the services, has already invested around $80 million (including $50 million for the Europe India Gateway cable) and is earmarking another $20-30 million for rolling out the services.
The company will provide International Private Leased Circuit connectivity (high-end dedicated internet connectivity) and Multi Protocol Label Switching (a data packet forwarding technology) services in the country.
C&W has four nodes in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore, and is looking at setting up three more nodes which would be set up in Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata.
At present, the business generated by the long-distance segment in the country is estimated to be over Rs 10,000 crore per annum.
