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GAIL plans to expand telecom network
Thursday, 29 July 2004, 19:30 IST
NEW DELHI: GailTel, the telecom business arm of state-owned gas major GAIL (India) Ltd, will invest 
7.5 billion ($161.6 million) over the next five years to expand its fibre optic network.
"The sheer size of the Indian market provides excellent scope for expansion," said Prashanto Banerjee, GAIL chairman and managing director, told a press conference here Thursday.
GailTel has already created an optical fibre network of 75,000 km, offering telecom services in several cities.
Banerjee said, "The money will be used by GailTel to expand its optic fibre cable network along the gas pipelines."
The gas major is currently working on plans to set up a gas pipeline grid for more economic and environment friendly transportation of the energy fuel.
International consultant McKinsey has been engaged by GAIL to suggest the strategy for expansion of telecom network, which has been generating good revenue.
"GailTel's sale of bandwidth has increased to 205 million ($4.41 million) in 2003-04 from 117.1 million in the previous fiscal, recording an increase of 75 percent," Banerjee said.
The total bandwidth sold has increased from 482 Mbps (megabits per second) to 1,230 Mbps since 2002-03 with service providers like Hutch, Escotel, Tata Teleservices, Data Access, Bharti Infotel and VSNL being among its customers.
Source: IANS
7.5 billion ($161.6 million) over the next five years to expand its fibre optic network.
"The sheer size of the Indian market provides excellent scope for expansion," said Prashanto Banerjee, GAIL chairman and managing director, told a press conference here Thursday.
GailTel has already created an optical fibre network of 75,000 km, offering telecom services in several cities.
Banerjee said, "The money will be used by GailTel to expand its optic fibre cable network along the gas pipelines."
The gas major is currently working on plans to set up a gas pipeline grid for more economic and environment friendly transportation of the energy fuel.
International consultant McKinsey has been engaged by GAIL to suggest the strategy for expansion of telecom network, which has been generating good revenue.
"GailTel's sale of bandwidth has increased to 205 million ($4.41 million) in 2003-04 from 117.1 million in the previous fiscal, recording an increase of 75 percent," Banerjee said.
The total bandwidth sold has increased from 482 Mbps (megabits per second) to 1,230 Mbps since 2002-03 with service providers like Hutch, Escotel, Tata Teleservices, Data Access, Bharti Infotel and VSNL being among its customers.
Source: IANS