TCL to invest $2 b in global expansion
The Hindu — February 14, 2008

The newly branded Tata Communications Ltd. (TCL) plans to invest $2 billion over three years to further fuel its global expansion plans.

TCL will integrate the former VSNL and Teleglobe brands and leverage its Tata Global Network (TGN) and unique experience of operating in emerging markets in Asia and Africa to deliver globally managed communications solutions.

TCL is in the process of completing additional submarine cables systems connecting emerging markets in Asia, the Middle East and Africa to Europe to meet the demands of consumer broadband and enterprise customers over the next five to eight years.

Under one umbrella
The Tata Communications brand integrates the former VSNL, VSNL International, Teleglobe, Tata Indicom Enterprise Business Unit (TIEBU) and Cipris brands worldwide.

Addressing the media, N. Srinath, CEO and Managing Director, TCL, said, "There are four major areas for investment. While $500 million will go in for additional submarine cables, $500 million will go in for Wimax development which is a focus area for us. The remaining $1 billion will go towards organic expansion of our network and in the Ethernet expansion."

While increased broadband penetration, popularity of rich media digital content and expansion into emerging markets have contributed to the surge in demand for bandwidth globally, TCL, with a specific focus on IP, MPLS, Ethernet and Managed Services, will leverage the TGN, which is one of the most recent and advanced submarine cable and IP networks to meet demand for converged IP solutions.

During the last year, TCL has announced significant investments in enhancing network and services capabilities in India, Intra-Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The TGN-IntraAsia cables connecting Singapore-Hong Kong- Japan will be up in the second half of 2008. The TGN-Eurasia cables, complementing the company's multi-terabit capacities across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, will ensure diverse and reliable inter-continental connectivity and will be up by the second half of 2009.

The company's Wimax network rollout in India will provide customers with high-speed and reliable connectivity to over 100 cities and towns.