India licence and JV
BT Group PLC
13 November 2006
November 13, 2006
DC06-602
BT applies for NLD & ILD licences in India to provide
end-to-end Managed Services
Announces joint venture with Jubilant Enpro Pvt Ltd
New Delhi, 13 November 2006 -- BT today announced it 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.
Hari S. Bhartia, Co-Chairman and Managing Director, Jubilant Group, said: "We
are delighted to partner with BT for this joint venture. As a company that has
transformed into a global networked IT services company, BT offers the highest
levels of customer service in terms not only of the success of its customer but
also its commitment to compliance with the law. We strongly believe that this is
the beginning of a long-standing relationship which will not only benefit Indian
companies but also contribute to the further development of the country's
telecoms industry."
With Indian headquarters located in New Delhi, BT has been present in India
since 1987. It set up its first customer relationship management office in 2004,
offering services through a fully licensed partner.
According to Green, BT has strong growth plans for its Indian operations,
predicting that its revenues from India will be US$250 million by 2009. BT
employs over 15,000 people in Asia Pacific (both directly and indirectly), of
which the majority are based in India. BT is looking to increase its Indian
employee strength by hiring an additional 6,000 people within the next two
years.
Andy Green added: "Establishing and managing our own operations in India is a
landmark development. With these licences and planned investment, we will be
able to provide the same high levels of services in Bangalore as we do in
Boston, and in Mumbai as we do in Madrid. This will allow our India customers
access to a BT managed network which is connected to BT's comprehensive global
network across Asia Pacific, Europe and North America."
In the past three years, BT in Asia Pacific has invested more than US$100
million in rebuilding its regional network. Most recently in February 2006, BT
announced a US$21 million investment in a global IP-based voice platform which
will see the current legacy TDM network replaced by an MPLS-based network across
over 30 countries worldwide. BT has plans to invest a significant portion of
this in India.
In January 2005, BT set up a regional Customer Management Centre in
collaboration with Infosys in Pune, India to focus on the quality and
performance of BT's services to customers. The centre handles the majority of
BT's customer service activities for multinational customers in the Asia Pacific
region.
BT Telecom India Pvt. Ltd. is a subsidiary of BT plc, a global leader in
networked IT services with revenues of $30 billion and a customer base of over
20 million. BT is contributing approximately US$1.6 million in cash for its 74
per cent stake in BT Telecom India.
- end -
About Jubilant Enpro Pvt Ltd
Jubilant Enpro Pvt. Ltd. is a member company of Jubilant Group, a business group
having diverse interests in four sectors: (1) Pharmaceuticals, Life Sciences &
Specialty Chemicals; (2) Food Services & Food Retail; (3) Oil & Gas; and (4)
Trading & Services. A shared vision and common value bind them together.
Over the years, Jubilant Group has created globally sustainable businesses and
an international presence in the pharmaceutical and chemicals sector. The group
is also expanding substantially in the Contract Research & other services which
relate to Pharmaceutical and Bio-technology. Jubilant Group has customers across
60 countries, believes in building partnership to create value and continues to
put large investments in research & development.
Jubilant Group's revenue was US$ 700 million in the financial year 2005-06.
About BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and
services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include networked
IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and
higher-value broadband and internet products and services. BT consists
principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail
and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2006, BT Group plc's revenue was £19,514 million with
profit before taxation of £2,040 million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and
encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is
listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt. BT images are available for
download via the image library at www.vismedia.co.uk
***
For further information, please contact:
David Clarke
Corporate & Media Relations, Asia Pacific
Tel: +852 2532 3652
Email: david.r.clarke@bt.com
Shalini Singh, Corporate & Media Relations Manager, India
Tel: +91 42119900; Fax: +91 42119901
Email: shalini.1.singh@bt.com
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange