Chennai: Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL) plans to launch branded PCOs (public call offices) for its fixed wireless services in Tamil Nadu. The basic services operator has already started developing the PCO market in state.

At present, it has around 3800 branded PCOs in Andhra Pradesh called ‘Tata Telesmart’. All the PCOs will be franchisees including both existing PCOs, who want to expand and the new entrants into the field, said TTSL’s (Tamil Nadu Circle) chief operating officer R Balachandran.

The number of PCOs in any location would be based on the consumer demand, he said. "The aim is not to just add numbers, but to enable our franchisees and associates to make some money," he added.

The PCO operators would work on the basis of commission on sales, apart from performance-based incentives and compensation for in-store displays, promos etc. The cost of setting up a booth could be shared by the PCO owner and the company, Mr Balachandran said.

The company is not yet ready to divulge the brandname for Tamil Nadu nor the number of PCOs it is planning to set up. However, the PCOs would be a part of the one lakh subscribers it is targeting in the first year of operations. The BSO is expected to launch its fixed and wireless services in the state by end of October.

The first few months in the market will be spent studying the market behaviour to categorise it into sub-segments, so as to offer tailor-made schemes to suit the requirements of each customer, said
Mr Balachandran.

The company plans to start with voice services first and gradually launch data services, followed by various value-added offerings like post-paid Internet.