Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd, the Tata group-run international long distance services company, is spreading its wings abroad.
After starting operations in Sri Lanka and Singapore, it is now planning to set up operations in Hong Kong, where it has applied for a telecom service licence, though it will have to tie up with a local company for last-mile access. Furthermore, it has also obtained all the legal permissions to enter the United Kingdom market.
VSNL has also set up an international business group to handle its international sales operations and has roped in Vinod Kumar from WorldCom to head this group.
The company is also augmenting its international connectivity by setting up a sub-sea cable between Chennai and Singapore as well as a Japan-US cable.
VSNL's director, operations, N Srinath, pointed out that, "We have made provisions to branch out the cables at various places to link them with other geographical locations."
VSNL has chalked out a Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 20 billion) capital expenditure plan for 2004-2005.
The money will be spent on adding various services, including an aggressive thrust on broadband.
At an analysts meeting here on Tuesday, VSNL managing director SK Gupta said, "The company