Bharti to pump Rs 200 crore to boost capacity in east

Bharti Cellular will be investing around Rs 200 crore for coverage and capacity expansion in the eastern region during 2005-06, Rajan Swaroop, director of the company's east region hub, said here today.

"Around 60 per cent towns in the West Bengal circle are now connected and the Rs 200 crore investment in this fiscal will extend reach in the region," said Swaroop on the sidelines of a media briefing of the Airtel One India Challenge car rally.

Bharti will take up a project focusing on connectivity in rural areas.

"The process shall begin within three months and next year, Bharti will work on connecting the rural population," said Swaroop.

Out of around 9.9 lakh subscriber base in the eastern region, the West Bengal and Calcutta circle had nearly 6.2 lakh subscribers.

The number of subscribers in other recently launched circles was expected to drive up numbers sharply.

The eastern market contributes only 4 per cent of national telecom revenue now but this was expected to rise to 8-9 per cent, he added.

The company has set a target to connect all the 5190 towns in the country.

At present, Bharti covered around 2200 towns, with 20 per cent of them being in the eastern region.

Following the launch of its service in six new circle in the eastern region in the last six months, Bharti expected connections to rise nearly 85 per cent.

Bharti is likely to extend its broadband service to 32 big towns by end 2005.

The broadband service might be launched in Kolkata in the third quarter of 2005.