AT&T launches networking services for Indian enterprises
Tuesday, 07 November 2006, 20:30 IST
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Bangalore: The US-based AT&T Inc, the first foreign telecom operator to be granted a licence to operate in India, has launched its networking services for the enterprise market in joint venture with Mahindra Telecommunications Investment Ltd. Though the $44-billion telecom giant has been present in India since 2000 in partnership with VSNL, providing switching products and solutions, the new venture will enable it to offer advanced networking services to enterprises in key verticals. "Using core technologies and products, our customers will be equipped with multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) and virtual private networks (VPNs) to enhance their operations and reduce the total cost of ownership," AT&T Global Network Services India, Sanjiv Bhagat told reporters on Monday. Having obtained the licence for $1.1-million to operate in the international and national long distance (ILD & NLD) sectors, the company (AT&T India) network will have five nodes across the country - Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. "With India emerging as a major outsourcing provider of software and IT-enabled services, world-class telecom backbone has become critical for enterprises to operate their networks seamlessly," Bhagat said. Besides the MPLS-based IP and VPNs, the company offers end-to-end solutions to its customers in verticals like BFSI (banking and financial services) using the asynchronous telecom mode (ATM) and wireless products. Company officials, however, did not disclose the equity amount of the joint venture in which AT&T has 74 percent ownership and Mahindras the remaining 26 percent stake. Going forward, the company plans to roll out advanced networking services and solutions to its existing 350 customers apart from potential ones and integrate them with its global network. "Once our customers make the transition by migrating to the new set-up, they will notice the difference in terms of quality, reliability and flexibility," Bhagat added.
Source: IANS
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