INTERVIEW-Satyam ties up with Loral
By Suresh Seshadri
biz.yahoo.com
MADRAS, India, March 29 (Reuters) - India's largest private sector Internet service provider Satyam Infoway Ltd is planning to launch private Internet gateways with Loral Space & Communications Ltd for improving connectivity with the U.S., the firm's chief said on Wednesday.
``We're looking at various alternatives, based on the right footprints, with both Asian and American satellites and along with Loral we have made an application to (Indian authorities) for the American satellite,' Managing Director, R. Ramaraj told Reuters in an interview.
The firm this month tied up with Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (SingTel) to launch international Internet gateways in five Indian cities.
Ramaraj said the firm was looking at having a total of about 12 private gateways operational by the end of 2000/2001 (April-March) to help boost the overall bandwidth avalable to its individual and corporate subscribers.
``The gateways with SingTel, where they will be vendors of bandwidth, should be operational by end April, early May as we have already got the security clearances.'
India's state-run Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd enjoyed a monopoly as overseas telecommunications access provider until recently when the Indian government decided to allow private operators to set up their own gateways.
Ramaraj said Satyam Infoway expected to boost its subscriber base to 150,000 by the end of March 31, 2000 against 118,000 at the end of December, 1999.
Satyam Infoway is a subsidiary of Satyam Computer Services Ltd . It also operates a portal SatyamOnline.com.
Ramaraj said Satyam was set to complete the acquisition of an overseas logistics firm to bolster its infrastructure and enable delivery of goods ordered online.
``This acquisition will be completed by end April.'
He said the company was keen to boost its presence in Internet firms by way of acquisitions.
Satyam Infoway in February raised $141.7 million by way of American Depositary Shares, its second issue in the U.S.
Each ADS represents one fourth of one equity share of Satyam Infoway. |
