ProwerGrid now to offer NLD services

The state-owned power transmission company, Power Grid Corporation of India (PowerGrid), has reportedly bagged the National Long Distance (NLD) License provided by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

It is believed that this move will help the company enter the country's growing telecom market. According to sources, an agreement to this effect was signed on July 5, 2006 between senior officials of PowerGrid and DoT in New Delhi.

PowerGrid, in a statement, said that in the post-NLD period, the company is looking to explore more options and opportunities in terms of growth in customer segments, customer base, and provision of value-adds to customers.

There are immediate plans for PowerGrid to start providing these services to various corporate and government agencies in the near future.

The newly-acquired NLD license will allow the company to better deploy their infrastructure across the country. The license will also allow PowerGrid to address the bandwidth requirement of those corporate customers, who cannot be served under the present IP-II, IP-I, and ISP licenses.

Business avenues too will be widened greatly, as the license will allow direct access to, and provide connectivity with, various bodies including banks, corporates, financial institutions, educational and research institutions, defense services, etc.