SSTL launches MTS operator services and MBlaze in Karnataka
By siliconindia   |   Saturday, 31 October 2009, 00:38 IST
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Bangalore: Sistema Shyam Teleservices (SSTL) has launched their mobile operating services under the brand 'MTS' in Karnataka. MTS has already been launched in other states like Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Along with the mobile operator services, the company has also established high speed data services network. These services will be available in around 10,000 outlets across the state, which will be present in 11 districts of the state. These GSM and CDMA offerings will be available through 153 distributors in these areas. The promotional offer of the services launched will enable the customers to call at the rate of half paisa per second. "We have launched the operator services across the state, and the high speed data connectivity services which we will provide in the areas like Mysore and Mandya will be the fastest," said Suresh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, SSTL. Kumar informed that MTS has partners from the small and medium enterprises sector and chain of outlets constituting 250 shops, where the services will be available. MTS has a brand value of $9 billion, and had started its India operations in Rajasthan in October 2008. In Karnataka, the company's high speed data services 'MBlaze' will be available in the cities like Bangalore, Mangalore, Belgaum and Mysore from November 9. "There are certain exciting features, which we have in the bag for attracting large number of customers," said Kumar. "Every new customer will not have to give a filled form on a sheet of paper, but we have arranged scanned forms for the new connections. We have also built up an online system for the lost and broken SIM cards. Also, we have the most competitive offering in terms of money being credited to a wrong customer, as other services consume up to one day for giving the money back. But we will give the money back to the customers in next 15 minutes," explained Kumar. Sistema plans to invest $4 billion in India over the next five years in the areas like HITECH, IT solutions, medical and others. Its company Sitronics will manufacture the SIM cards for the new operator MTS, as the network infrastructure will be built by the company, and also, it will be shared along with all the operators present in the state. "Mumbai will be the next place where the services will be launched in the first half of next year," informed Vsevolod Rozanov, President and CEO, SSTL. The company has more than 100 million subscribers around the world, as a major chunk of its operation goes in Russia and former Soviet Union nations like Armenia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and others. In India, the company covers about 2.3 million population. Commenting on the Indian market and the competition, Rozanov said, "The Indian market is much more competitive, the pricing are very aggressive here. Mobile phones are fast crossing the tag of commodity and are becoming a competition. It is really a big market."

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