Tata Indicom lines up Rs 25 crore for Himachal
Business Standard — October 7, 2006

Tata Indicom has drawn up a Rs 25 crore plan for expansion in rural areas in Himachal Pradesh in six months, say top company officials here. "As part of the expansion drive, we plan to cater to 100 semi-urban and rural segments in 10 of the 12 districts by the end of this financial year," said Sandeep Srivastava, Himachal Pradesh Tata Teleservices (TTSL) head. "For this, the company will also increase the total number of cell sites from 60 to 100. We also plan to set up 25 Tata Indicom shops in the state. The expansion will cost Rs 25 crore," Srivastava said.

"We currently enjoy around eight per cent market share in the fast growing telecom market sector. This drive will raise our share to 15 per cent by the end of this financial year," he said. "We will also be starting broadband services in Baddi in a few months," he said. "Until now, a majority of our staff was stationed in Chandigarh, but now we have shifted entirely to Shimla for better coordination," Srivastava said. Tata Indicom forayed into the state some two years ago by providing mobile and fixed wireless services. Bharti Telenet (AirTel) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) are way ahead of Tata Indicom, Idea and Reliance in the state.