Verizon's NLD, ILD plan to get nod soon

The department of telecommunication may soon allow US telecom firm Verizon Wireless to offer national and international services in partnership with domestic consumer durables giant Videocon Group.

Official sources said Verizon's license application was under process and "there should be no problem in issuing them letters of intent for national and international long distance business".

"There were some gaps in their documents and those anamolies have been corrected," a source said.

Verizon has tied up with Videocon for a foray in long- distance telephony venture. The company will offer virtual private networks/managed private line services.

Global telecom majors Orange and Cable & Wireless have

also sought NLD and ILD licenses and have approached Foreign Investment Promotion Board to get an entry into India.

Verizon's proposed entry follows that of other global firms like AT&T and BT. AT&T was the first multinational firm to receive NLD/ILD licences under guidelines that allowed 74 per cent foreign direct investment in the sector. It was also the first to launch services.

AT&T has partnered with Mahindra group, which has interest in IT and automobile sectors. British telecom firm BT has a partnership with Jubiliant Group, which has interest in pharmaceuticals and media.

BT had early this year inaugurated one of its nodes in Chennai to operate VPN/MPLS services.