ByCell to pump in Rs 2,000 cr for roll-out services in 5 circles

New Delhi, Oct 10 (UNI) Eagerly waiting for telecom licence to roll out its services in five states of the country, Swiss firm ByCell Telecommunications India Pvt Ltd today said it will infuse Rs 2,000 crore by 2010.

''We will invest Rs 2,000 crore for launching our GSM services in the five circles and expect to touch a subscriber base of five million in the next three years,'' company's Vice President Operation Alexandre Louine told reporters here.

The company is also in talks with Powergride for utilising their towers, he said.

The company intents to bring in latest technologies and provide cheapest services to its customers, he said.

Bycell India earlier applied for entering into licence agreements for provision of Unified Access Services Licence (UASL)in five telecommunications circles in Assam, North East, West Bengal, Orissa and Bihar. The company then extended its application for a pan-Indian licence.

The company became the first to apply for the licence after the government announced FDI norms.

Mr Louzine added, ''India is experiencing exponential growth in the telecom sector. We see the potential in Indian rural markets similar to the ones we experienced in Afghanistan, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Leone and Sierra.'' The company was incorporated as a subsidiary of Bycell Holding Ag, Switzerland with 74 per cent stake and Bitcorp Pvt Ltd with 26 per cent in 2005.

Bycell Holding is a Swiss-based telecommunications company engaged in building, operating and financing wireless, fixed line and data network in more than 15 countries.

UNI