Swiss ByCell Applies for Telecom License in India
October 12, 2007
ByCell India, the telecommunications arm of Switzerland's ByCell Holding, recently announced that it has applied for licenses to provide telecom services in 17 telecom circles of India.
The company also announced that it plans to initially invest 20 billion Rupees (US$508.9 million; US$1 = 39.3 Rupees) into network infrastructure, with priority given to the less-developed telecom circles, including Bihar, Orissa, Assam, North East, West Bengal, according to Reuters.
Despite the fact that the company's previous application for licenses in five telecom circles of India remains pending since January 2006, ByCell is persistent in its goal to operate mobile phone, broadband, and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) services in India, according to the same report.
According to MIC (Market Intelligent Center), telecommunications are where the Indian government's economic liberalization policies have been the most successful. Benefiting from increased consumer demand on falling tariffs and mobile phone prices, the Indian mobile phone market has seen rapid growth in recent years. By 2007, the mobile phone penetration rate in India is expected to exceed 11%, making India a major focus of attention for leading telecommunications equipment vendors worldwide.