Tata Tele goes for pan-India footprint

Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL) is all set to expand its footprint to cover all the 23 circles including J&K, Assam, and North East at an investment of Rs. 2,500-3,000 crore.
The company has applied for universal access service licence (UASL) in the three states and plans to roll out services in the next three years. Company already posseses UASL in all the other circles. Company has also applied for NLD licence. It is being expected that company will set up its own network for NLD over few years. NLD licence would enable TTSL to offer much competetive plans like One India and will also lease out surplus capacity.
Sources in the company told, “This would be one of the most critical roll-outs for the company. Our focus now is to set up the network once we get the licence, then we will decide about our plans to grab market share and tariff plans at a latter stage. With a pan India presence, we would be able to offer better roaming rates and services.” Sources also pointed that the thrust in the three new circles would be to generate revenues from its roaming volumes. In addition, sources claimed that rural thrust in these three circles would be visible, once the company launches the services.
TTSL is confident that it would be able to ride on the code division multiple access (CDMA) technology to offer not only voice but also high-end services. “We would be deploying CDMA1X technology in the new circles,” said sources. The company plans to invest about Rs 1000 crore for its rural thrust, that will include setting up of specialised 3000 base stations in difficult terrains in rural parts of the country.