News

BT Looks East for Expansion

BT has lodged applications with the Indian Department of Telecommunications for national long distance and international long distance licences. When granted, the licences will enable BT’s newly-formed joint venture company, BT Telecom India Pvt. Ltd., to offer services for the first time directly to multisite corporate customers in the Indian market.

In addition, the company announced it has reached a joint venture agreement with Jubilant Enpro Pvt. Ltd., a New Delhi-based company engaged in the businesses of oil and gas, food and services. Jubilant Enpro is a member company of Jubilant Group, a business group having diverse business interests with Jubilant Organosys as the flagship company and which is a public limited company listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.

Andy Green, CEO, BT Global Services, said: “India is one of the fastest growing markets for BT and our strategic partnership with Jubilant Enpro will strengthen our ICT deployment in India. With this alliance and under local licensing, customers can be assured of world class end-to-end global services.”

BT’s initial intention is to provide both domestic and international managed services to corporate customers who have sites in India. It will provide these companies with virtual private network-based (VPN) services using technologies such as ATM and internet protocol-based multi-protocol label switching (MPLS). Currently, BT assists its customers wanting connectivity to India through an arrangement it has with a local licensed operator.

Under the joint venture agreement, BT holds a 74 per cent interest while Jubilant Enpro holds 26 per cent.